General: White Ratany (Krameria grayi) is an upright, much branched shrub growing to about 3-ft high. The leaves are hairy, narrowly lanceolate, and with a pointed tip. The flowers are purple and asymmetrical, although actually the sepals are purple and flared-back; three of the petals are green, pointed upward, and with purple tips; and the other two petals are glandular and held along the ovary. The fruits are covered with spines that are hooked at the tip like a grappling hook (compare with pointed spine tips on the fruits of Littleleaf Ratany).

White Ratany is a fairly common component of vegetation communities in dry, well-drained gravelly areas on bajadas into the lower mountains in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub), life zones.

Around Las Vegas, look for White Ratany to the northeast of town (Valley of Fire, Gold Butte Region) or south of town (Mojave National Preserve). Closer to town, look for the other species of ratany (Littleleaf Ratany).

Family: Ratany (Krameriaceae). Also called Krameria bicolor.