Linanthus bellus
Encyclopedia
Linanthus bellus is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the phlox family
known by the common name desert beauty. It is known only from northern Baja California
and eastern San Diego County, California
, where it grows in high desert chaparral
in sandy soils. This is a petite annual herb producing short, threadlike stems lined with occasional tiny needle-lobed leaves. The inflorescence
is usually a single tiny flower with bright pink lobes no more than a centimeter across. The flower has a yellow throat with purple spots.
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 desert beauty. It is known only from 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...
and eastern San Diego County, California
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
, where it grows in high desert 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...
in sandy soils. This is a petite annual herb producing short, threadlike stems lined with occasional tiny needle-lobed leaves. 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 usually a single tiny flower with bright pink lobes no more than a centimeter across. The flower has a yellow throat with purple spots.