Virginia Tech Dendrology

white ratany Krameriaceae Krameria grayi Rose & Painter symbol: KRGR
Leaf: Alternate, simple, drought deciduous, narrowly ovate, 1/2 inch long, finely velvety particularly when first emerging, grayish-green when mature.
Flower: Small, 5 purple-pink petals 1/4 inch long, each tapering to a point, irregularly flowering, appearing in spring and early fall if rainfall is sufficient.
Fruit: Peculiar looking, single seeded pod, elliptical, fuzzy, tan ball, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, covered in numerous spines (bur-like); barbs only present at ends of spines.
Twig: Slender, finely fuzzy, gray-brown with a slight reddish to purple cast, stiff with spine-like tips.
Bark: Gray and shallowly fissured and split.
Form: Small (to 2 feet), dense shrub with few leaves and spine-tipped twigs.
Looks like: blackbrush - greasewood - four-wing saltbush - shadscale

Additional Range Information: Krameria grayi is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information