California Flannelbush
Encyclopedia
Fremontodendron californicum, the California flannelbush, with syn. Fremontia californica Torr.) is a flowering evergreen minor hardwood tree
/shrub
, with fuzzy, flannel-like leaves and colorful blossoms. It bears the alternate common names California fremontia and flannel flower. It is one of two species in the genus Fremontodendron, and it is divided into four subspecies.
, especially along the eastern San Joaquin Valley
in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, where it thrives in chalky, sandy, nutritionally-poor soils; it is also found on the east slope Cascade Range
foothills of the northwest San Joaquin Valley. It is also found in small, isolated populations in the mountains of central and western Arizona
's transition zone
-Mogollon Rim
region, primarily in the Mazatzal
and Superstition Mountains
. http://www.jstor.org/view/03636445/di001082/00p0239a/0 http://www.asu.edu/giscert/text/price.htm.
]. It is sometimes known by a species name of its own, Fremontodendron decumbens. It can only grow in metal-rich gabbro
soil, a red weathered soil of volcanic origin
, and requires fire for seed germination. Nearly all of the individuals of this species are found in the Pine Hill Ecological Reserve
in the Sierra Nevada foothills, but since this reserve is near human habitation, fire is suppressed.
The subspecies F. c. californicum, which is usually called California flannelbush or California slippery elm, is more common and is cultivated as an ornamental plant
in garden
s. The flowers are yellow and each petal has an attractive, curved shape that comes to a point. The bark bears a gooey sap that was once used as a topical remedy for mucous membrane irritation and for gastrointestinal upset. However, the hairs covering the leaves are easily brushed off and are a skin and eye irritant.
Fremontodendron californicum is also found in central to northern Baja California
in isolated locales.
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
/shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
, with fuzzy, flannel-like leaves and colorful blossoms. It bears the alternate common names California fremontia and flannel flower. It is one of two species in the genus Fremontodendron, and it is divided into four subspecies.
Distribution
Fremontodendron californicum is found in some mountainous spots in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, especially along the eastern San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, where it thrives in chalky, sandy, nutritionally-poor soils; it is also found on the east slope Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
foothills of the northwest San Joaquin Valley. It is also found in small, isolated populations in the mountains of central and western Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
's transition zone
Arizona transition zone
The Arizona transition zone, or Transition zone is a diagonal northwest-by-southeast region across central Arizona. The region is a transition from the higher elevation Colorado Plateau to the northeast in Northeast Arizona and the Basin and Range region of southwest and south regions of lower...
-Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim
The Mogollon Rim is a topographical and geological feature running across the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately from northern Yavapai County eastward to near the border with New Mexico.-Description:...
region, primarily in the Mazatzal
Mazatzal Mountains
The Mazatzal Mountains are a mountain range in south central Arizona, about 30–45 miles northeast of Phoenix and the Phoenix metropolitan area. The origin of the name remains obscure but one possibility is that it is from the Aztec language meaning "place of the deer"...
and Superstition Mountains
Superstition Mountains
The Superstition Mountains , popularly referred to as "The Superstitions", are a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area...
. http://www.jstor.org/view/03636445/di001082/00p0239a/0 http://www.asu.edu/giscert/text/price.htm.
Subspecies
The subspecies Pine Hill flannelbush, F. c. decumbens, is a California endemic and a federally-listed endangered speciesEndangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
]. It is sometimes known by a species name of its own, Fremontodendron decumbens. It can only grow in metal-rich gabbro
Gabbro
Gabbro refers to a large group of dark, coarse-grained, intrusive mafic igneous rocks chemically equivalent to basalt. The rocks are plutonic, formed when molten magma is trapped beneath the Earth's surface and cools into a crystalline mass....
soil, a red weathered soil of volcanic origin
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...
, and requires fire for seed germination. Nearly all of the individuals of this species are found in the Pine Hill Ecological Reserve
Pine Hill Ecological Reserve
Pine Hill Ecological Reserve is a nature reserve of located due east of Folsom Lake, in El Dorado County, California. The reserve was established in 1979, and is managed by the California Department of Fish and Game....
in the Sierra Nevada foothills, but since this reserve is near human habitation, fire is suppressed.
The subspecies F. c. californicum, which is usually called California flannelbush or California slippery elm, is more common and is cultivated as an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
in garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s. The flowers are yellow and each petal has an attractive, curved shape that comes to a point. The bark bears a gooey sap that was once used as a topical remedy for mucous membrane irritation and for gastrointestinal upset. However, the hairs covering the leaves are easily brushed off and are a skin and eye irritant.
Fremontodendron californicum is also found in central to northern Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
in isolated locales.