The low, broad fruit of
Allionia choisyi resembles a small, clinging tick, hence the Spanish name "garapatilla." Occasionally the fruits are strongly convex, others may have four moderately slender teeth; in either case the fruits are intergradient to the few-toothed, strongly convex fruits of
A. incarnata. Such plants are most commonly found in southeastern Arizona and in arid south-central Texas. Plants with fruits shaped as those in
A. choisyi, with glands on the concave surface with tall stalks but with entire or nearly entire, curved, lateral ribs occur occasionally in South America. Collectors have noted that
A. choisyi plants hug the ground more closely than those of
A. incarnata. Throughout much of its range in North America,
A. choisyi has leaves with strongly pleated-undulate blades. Very small, pale pink to white flowers are also more common in
A. choisyi, especially in Mexico.
In the flora area Allionia choisyi is usually an annual. In Mexico, plants often appear to be perennial.
