Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 19, 2026

Mohavea

Mohavea is a plant genus consisting of two species native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This genus is often included in the closely related snapdragon genus Antirrhinum.

Last revised
Jul 19, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
170 w
Citations
2
Source
Mohavea
Mohavea confertiflora
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Tribe: Antirrhineae
Genus: Mohavea
A.Gray
Species

Mohavea breviflora
Mohavea confertiflora

Mohavea is a plant genus consisting of two species native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This genus is often included in the closely related snapdragon genus Antirrhinum.1

Taxonomy

Formerly included in the family Scrophulariaceae, the genus is now included in Plantaginaceae. The two species are both notable annuals flowering in the spring: the lesser mohavea, Mohavea breviflora, has small yellow flowers, while the ghost flower, Mohavea confertiflora, features large pale flowers with a pattern of purple spots.

Etymology

The genus name is derived from the Mojave River, where specimens were first collected by John C. Fremont.2

References

References

  1. Oyama, R. K.; Baum, D. A. (2004). "Phylogenetic relationships of North American Antirrhinum (Veronicaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 91 (6): 918–925. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.6.918. PMID 21653448.
  2. Jepson Manual Treatment
External links