About Echinopepon bigelovii (S.Watson) S.Watson
Brandegea is a monotypic genus that contains only one species: Brandegea bigelovii, commonly called the desert starvine. This sprawling perennial vine belongs to the squash family, and is native to the deserts of California, Arizona, and northern Mexico. Its distinctive small dark-green leaves vary in shape, but most often take the form of a deeply lobed, long-fingered palmate shape. The leaves are heavily speckled with white oil glands. This vine grows tendrils, and produces tiny five-pointed white flowers that are only 2 or 3 millimeters wide. It also bears small, dry, prickly fruits that are 5 or 6 millimeters in length, each holding a single seed. The plant grows from a deep taproot.
