Navarretia leucocephala
Encyclopedia
Navarretia leucocephala is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family
known by the common name whitehead pincushionplant, or whitehead navarretia. It is native to North America, including much of the western United States and central Canada. It generally grows in wet or moist terrestrial habitat such as vernal pool
s.
It is an annual herb producing a slender, hairy stem. The plant's appearance is variable, and there are several subspecies that differ slightly. The appearance of the plant also depends on the amount of water available in its habitat. The leaves are divided into many needlelike lobes. The inflorescence
is a head of flowers lined with leaflike bract
s. Each tubular flower is up to a centimeter long. The flowers vary in color from white to blue. Two rare California
subspecies are federally listed as endangered species
in the United States.
Subspecies:
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 whitehead pincushionplant, or whitehead navarretia. It is native to North America, including much of the western United States and central Canada. It generally grows in wet or moist terrestrial habitat such as vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
s.
It is an annual herb producing a slender, hairy stem. The plant's appearance is variable, and there are several subspecies that differ slightly. The appearance of the plant also depends on the amount of water available in its habitat. The leaves are divided into many needlelike lobes. 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 head of flowers lined with leaflike 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. Each tubular flower is up to a centimeter long. The flowers vary in color from white to blue. Two rare 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...
subspecies are federally listed as 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...
in the United States.
Subspecies:
- N. l. ssp. bakeri (Baker's navarretia) - an uncommon subspecies limited-endemic to California north of the Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay AreaThe San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
- N. l. ssp. leucocephala - can be found in central California and OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
- N. l. ssp. minima (least navarretia) - the most widespread subspecies
- N. l. ssp. pauciflora (few-flowered navarretia) - endangered plant known from about 10 occurrences endemic in California north of the Bay Area
- N. l. ssp. plieantha (many-flowered navarretia) - endangered plant known from about 10 occurrences endemic in the same range as ssp. pauciflora