Orange Flameflowers (Phemeranthus aurantiacus) are beautiful summer wildflowers that are found in the upland areas around Tucson after sufficient monsoon rains. The scientific name of this species used to be Talinum aurantiacum, but this has recently been changed.

I've found Orange Flameflowers most often in areas around 4000 feet (1219 m) in elevation, and they are quite easy to spot given their bright orange to yellow flowers that often have flame-like streaks of red.

Orange Flameflowers are members of the Purslane Family (Portulacaceae), and like other members of this family, their leaves and stems are plump and succulent, and they can feel rather cold and flabby to the touch. The large, fleshy roots of Orange Flameflowers are edible if cooked. I don't know what they taste like, but the roots were eaten by Native Americans.