<p>NPS/Patrick Myers
</p><p>This rare plant generates many visitor questions each summer. Visitors assume the large, lush seedpod is a blossom, but the flowers are actually the tiny white blossoms at the end of succulent, pink tubes. 
</p><p>This verbena looks like it belongs more in a tropical rainforest than a desert - just another hidden surprise at Great Sand Dunes!
</p>
The scientific name for this species is Tripterocalyx micranthus. Because this plant is relatively rare, its historical medicinal uses are not well-known. Regional tribes used related Tripterocalyx species as a diaphoretic, sedative, snake bite treatment, and sore throat treatment.
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/94707653@N06">Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve</a>
CC BY 2.0
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/greatsanddunesnpp/35762042085/">Small-Flowered Sand Verbena</a>