Leptosiphon lemmonii
Encyclopedia
Leptosiphon lemmonii is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family
known by the common name Lemmon's linanthus.
It is native to the San Bernardino Mountains
in southern California
, and to Baja California
. It grows in dry inland chaparral
, woodlands, and other desert and mountain habitat.
The inflorescence
is an array of a few small flowers accompanied by bract
s shaped much like the leaves. Each flower has lobes only 2 or 3 millimeters long, usually white or cream in color darkening to yellow and orange in the throat, sometimes with maroon areas as well.
Polemoniaceae
Polemoniaceae are a family of about 25 genera with 270-400 species of annual and perennial plants, native to the Northern Hemisphere and South America, with the center of diversity in western North America, especially in California.Only one genus is found in Europe, and two in Asia, where they...
known by the common name Lemmon's linanthus.
It is native to the San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range north and east of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States. The mountains run for approximately 60 miles east-west on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in southwestern San Bernardino County, north of the...
in southern 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...
, and to 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...
. It grows in dry inland chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
, woodlands, and other desert and mountain habitat.
Description
This is a small, hairy, glandular annual herb producing a thin stem no more than about 15 centimeters tall. The leaves are divided into needle-like linear lobes each a few millimeters in length.The 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...
is an array of a few small flowers accompanied by bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s shaped much like the leaves. Each flower has lobes only 2 or 3 millimeters long, usually white or cream in color darkening to yellow and orange in the throat, sometimes with maroon areas as well.