Ceanothus parvifolius
Encyclopedia
Ceanothus parvifolius is a species of shrub
in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae
known by the common name littleleaf ceanothus. It is endemic to the High Sierra Nevada of California
, where it grows in moist areas in the forest.
. They are less than 2 centimeters long, mainly oval in shape and smooth-edged, sometimes with a few tiny teeth near the tip.
The plentiful inflorescence
s are clusters several centimeters long of flowers in shades of very pale to deep blue. The fruit is a 3-lobed smooth capsule a few millimeters long.
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...
in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae
Rhamnaceae
Rhamnaceae, the Buckthorn family, is a large family of flowering plants, mostly trees, shrubs and some vines.The family contains 50-60 genera and approximately 870-900 species. The Rhamnaceae have a worldwide distribution, but are more common in the subtropical and tropical regions...
known by the common name littleleaf ceanothus. It is endemic to the High Sierra Nevada of California
California
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...
, where it grows in moist areas in the forest.
Description
This is a spreading shrub, growing to a maximum height of just over a meter, forming a wide bush. The woody parts are reddish in color and hairless. The leaves are alternately arranged and deciduousDeciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
. They are less than 2 centimeters long, mainly oval in shape and smooth-edged, sometimes with a few tiny teeth near the tip.
The plentiful inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s are clusters several centimeters long of flowers in shades of very pale to deep blue. The fruit is a 3-lobed smooth capsule a few millimeters long.