Silverknob Sagebrush
Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in the thickened base of its stem)This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 104 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.
It has several branched, straight stems covered in knobbly, silver bark, and the wood inside is pale brown-grey.
The branches are short, rigid and upright with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with handfuls of huge, very narrow and elongated, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are either purple or green, with light purple zig-zags, tough and waxy.
It produces thick bunches of giant, blue flowers with sickle shaped petals. They are sturdy and have a faint scent that smells like pot-purri. In late winter it forms largehazel, winged seeds that spin and fall nearby.
All of it is said to be part of one single, massive plant.
It releases hallucinogenic smoke when burned.
It is suitable for making baskets and the like
blue
green
light purple
pale brown-grey
purple
silver