Navarretia ojaiensis
Encyclopedia
Navarretia ojaiensis is a rare species of flowering plant in the phlox family
known by the common name Ojai navarretia. It occurs in Ventura County, California
, where it is known from the Ojai Valley
, the Santa Clarita Valley
, and the Santa Susana Mountains
. It may also occur in the Santa Monica Mountains
within Los Angeles County
, but the population known from there may have been extirpated
by now. It was on land that was converted to a parking lot at the home of the composer Marco Beltrami
. Many of the known occurrences may no longer exist, because they are in areas that have experienced urban development
. All but one of the remaining populations are in locations which are likely to be developed or altered. One population is on a slope in Agoura Hills
which is slated to be cleared for the construction of the new headquarters for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
.
This is an annual herb with a spreading, upright stem growing up to 33 centimeters long. The hairy, glandular leaves have blades divided into narrow, pointed lobes lined with tiny teeth. The inflorescence
has narrow, pointed bract
s and sepal
s around the flowers which are densely coated in shiny hairs and resin glands. The tubular flower corolla is roughly a centimeter long and white in color with purple markings in the throat. The five corolla lobes are pointed and the stamen
s protrude from within the throat.
This plant is new to science, having been officially described in 2007, accompanied by an updated key
to the genus.
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 Ojai navarretia. It occurs in Ventura County, California
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
, where it is known from the Ojai Valley
Ojai, California
Ojai is a city in Ventura County, California, USA. It is situated in the Ojai Valley , surrounded by hills and mountains. The population was 7,461 at the 2010 census, down from 7,862 at the 2000 census.-History:Chumash Indians were the early inhabitants of the valley...
, the Santa Clarita Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the Rancho San Francisco Mexican land grant...
, and the Santa Susana Mountains
Santa Susana Mountains
The Santa Susana Mountains are a transverse range of mountains in southern California, north of the city of Los Angeles, in the United States. The range runs east-west separating the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley on its south, from Santa Clara River Valley to the north, and Santa Clarita...
. It may also occur in the Santa Monica Mountains
Santa Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains are a Transverse Range in Southern California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the United States.-Geography:...
within Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, but the population known from there may have been extirpated
Local extinction
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, is the condition of a species which ceases to exist in the chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere...
by now. It was on land that was converted to a parking lot at the home of the composer Marco Beltrami
Marco Beltrami
Marco Beltrami is an American film composer.-Life and career:Beltrami was born in Long Island, New York of Italian and Greek descent...
. Many of the known occurrences may no longer exist, because they are in areas that have experienced urban development
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
. All but one of the remaining populations are in locations which are likely to be developed or altered. One population is on a slope in Agoura Hills
Agoura Hills, California
Agoura Hills is a city in Los Angeles County, California, and has the ZIP code 91301. The population was 20,330 at the 2010 census, down from 20,537 at the 2000 census. It is located in the eastern Conejo Valley between the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains. This city on the Ventura...
which is slated to be cleared for the construction of the new headquarters for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is an American non-profit charitable foundation, established in 1944 by hotel entrepreneur Conrad N. Hilton. It remained relatively small until his death on January 3, 1979 when it was named the principal beneficiary of his estate...
.
This is an annual herb with a spreading, upright stem growing up to 33 centimeters long. The hairy, glandular leaves have blades divided into narrow, pointed lobes lined with tiny teeth. 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...
has narrow, pointed 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 and sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s around the flowers which are densely coated in shiny hairs and resin glands. The tubular flower corolla is roughly a centimeter long and white in color with purple markings in the throat. The five corolla lobes are pointed and the stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s protrude from within the throat.
This plant is new to science, having been officially described in 2007, accompanied by an updated key
Single-access key
A 'key' in Biology is a modeling method used for categorizing species using logical choices. A single-access key is a key where the sequence and structure of identification steps is fixed by the author of the key...
to the genus.