About Petalonyx nitidus S.Watson
Petalonyx nitidus S.Watson is a species of flowering plant in the family Loasaceae, commonly called shinyleaf sandpaper plant. It is native to deserts and desert mountains of the southwestern United States, growing in scrub, woodland, and other local habitats. This plant is a clumpy subshrub, consisting of many rough-haired, erect or spreading stems that reach 15 to 45 centimeters in length. Its leaves are oval, pointed, usually toothed or serrated, and grow up to 4 centimeters long. A crowded raceme of many flowers forms the inflorescence at the end of each stem. The flower has a tubular appearance: its white petals are fused near their spreading tips but open lower down. Long stamens extend well beyond the corolla, an unusual feature because they emerge from outside the corolla.
