Monardella stoneana
Encyclopedia
Monardella stoneana is a rare species of flowering plant in the mint family
known by the common name Jennifer's monardella.
This species was named for the plant ecologist
Jennifer Stone. This critically endangered
species was separated from Monardella viminea
, a federally listed endangered species
from the same area.
, and Baja California
. In California it is known only from the San Ysidro Mountains
, where it grows in coastal sage scrub
, chaparral
, and other local habitat. It grows in rock cracks and crevices, sometimes in intermittent streams that may flood with winter rains.
with strongly aromatic foliage. The hairless or sparsely hairy stems spread to 50 or 60 centimeters in length. They are lined with lance-shaped leaves with green or purple-tinged blades up to 3.5 centimeters long by 1 wide. The inflorescence
is a terminal cluster of flowers or a raceme
of two or more clusters of flowers with lance-shaped bract
s at the bases. The flowers have tubular corollas tinged pale pink or bluish with long stamen
s emerging from the centers.
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
known by the common name Jennifer's monardella.
This species was named for the plant ecologist
Plant ecology
Plant ecology is a subdiscipline of ecology which studies the distribution and abundance of plants, the interactions among and between members of plant species, and their interactions with their environment...
Jennifer Stone. This critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
species was separated from Monardella viminea
Monardella linoides
Monardella linoides is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common names flaxleaf monardella and willowy monardella...
, a federally listed endangered species
Endangered 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...
from the same area.
Distribution
It is known from a small range straddling the US-Mexico border between San Diego County, CaliforniaSan 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...
, and 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 California it is known only from the San Ysidro Mountains
San Ysidro Mountains
The San Ysidro Mountains are a mountain range in San Diego County, California. They are considered a part of the Peninsular Ranges. The range extends for a short distance into Baja California. The highest point of the range is Otay Mountain, elevation 3566 feet. The majority of the range is...
, where it grows in coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub is a low scrubland plant community found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of coastal California and northern Baja California. It is characterized by low-growing aromatic, and drought-deciduous shrubs adapted to the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the...
, 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...
, and other local habitat. It grows in rock cracks and crevices, sometimes in intermittent streams that may flood with winter rains.
Description
Monardella stoneana, a rare plant, is a low, compact subshrubShrub
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 strongly aromatic foliage. The hairless or sparsely hairy stems spread to 50 or 60 centimeters in length. They are lined with lance-shaped leaves with green or purple-tinged blades up to 3.5 centimeters long by 1 wide. 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 a terminal cluster of flowers or a raceme
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
of two or more clusters of flowers with lance-shaped 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 at the bases. The flowers have tubular corollas tinged pale pink or bluish with long stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s emerging from the centers.