Whispering Bells

Whispering bells or yellow whispering bells (Emmenanthe penduliflora)

have a hairy, bell-shaped pale yellow flower

with five rounded lobes.

The flowers dry to a cream color and make papery, whispering sounds in the wind which gives it its common name.

The stems and leaves are covered in glandular hairs and it reaches a height of 20 inches.

It exudes a sticky juice with a light medicinal odor. The leaves are green, narrow, pinnately lobed and have saw-toothed edges.

They are found in portions of northern California and almost all of the southern half of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. It is most common in dry, recently burned areas: germination of the seeds may be triggered by the presence of burned plant material. I found these plants in the southern portion of Joshua Tree National Park on the bajada below the Eagle Mountains off the Hayfield Road exit of I-10.