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Leaves shriveled but still visible, and will add to basal stem spines by next season. The spines form from the retained basal part of the tough mid-rib of the leaves. I was hoping to catch these in their late red-leaf stage but it was a little too late for that this season at the lower elevations.

In the cases I have observed, this plant seems to have a very narrow edaphic (soil/substrate) niche: very densely rocky soil with rocks ranging from large gravel to fist sized. I suspect the soil is also very shallow and becomes bone dry by mid summer. There are a few photos here (e.g. this one and this one) and elsewhere that appear more like rock slabs, but I think those are in large pockets/cracks with plenty of soil in them. The habitat is aptly described as "fractured basalt". I added a photo showing typical habitat (last photo). Phemeranthus seems to be present mostly in the flat areas with moderate density of the golden-colored grass visible here (Poa secunda) and few or no shrubs. FNA describes habitat including cliffs and ledges, but I have yet to see it on anything except nearly flat areas.

I have not dug one up, but the roots are reported to be "elongate and woody" and herbarium photos suggest they are not greatly modified for water storage (as lithosol Lomatium species are). I have not yet found it in bare or vertical rock cracks and it is usually accompanied only by the small bunchgrass Poa secunda in the immediate vicinity. Artemisia rigida and Eriogonum thymoides may be nearby in slightly better soil along with a variety of herbaceous flowering plants including Lewisia rediviva.

Unlike most plants in this sort of winter-wet shallow lithosol, this species initiates growth rather late in spring (May or June), flowers in June or July, and live leaves persist through August and sometimes September.

For superb photos of the magenta flowers, which are relatively small but brilliant, go here. They are very short lived (ephemeral flower, Phemeranthus) but each plant may produce many in succession from branched inflorescences.