 | Range Ratany, Range Krameria Krameria erecta (K. glandulosa) Krameriaceae Range ratany is found throughout the Trans-Pecos and Western Texas in desert habitats, and also west to California and northern Mexico. A low, intricately-branched shrub about 3 feet high, its branches are gray and the young parts of the plant are covered with long gray hairs. The tiny leaves are grayish-green, also with dense long hairs. Although the stems are spineless, they taper to a sharp point. Range krameria's flowers are small but showy, purple-violet with 5 petals, occuring from April through October. The fruit is a rounded greenish-white pod covered with spines. Ratanies are parasitic on the roots of other plants, depending on them for nutrients, although they do photosynthize. The flowers produce oil instead of nectar, and attract bees with hind legs specialized for scraping it up. Plant Habit or Use: small shrub Exposure: sun Flower Color: purple
Blooming Period: spring Fruit Characteristics: barbed pod with one seed Height: to 3 feet Width: to 3 feet Plant Character: deciduous Heat Tolerance: very high Water Requirements: Soil Requirements: adaptable Additional Comments:
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