Plectritis congesta
Encyclopedia
Plectritis congesta is a species of flowering plant in the valerian family
known by several common names, including shortspur seablush and rosy plectritis. It is native to western North America from Vancouver Island
to southern California
, where it is a common plant in coastal forests, seashores, mountain meadows, and other habitat. It is an annual herb growing erect 10 to 60 centimeters tall. The widely-spaced, paired and oppositely arranged leaves are oval or somewhat oblong, smooth-edged, and up to 6 centimeters long by 2 wide. The upper ones lack petioles
. The inflorescence
is a dense headlike cluster of flowers in shades of bright pink to nearly white. Each flower has an upper and lower lobed lip under a centimeter in length and three protruding stamen
s tipped with purple anthers bearing yellow pollen
.
Valerianaceae
The Valerianaceae, or valerian family, of the order Dipsacales contains about 350 species in 7 genera. Plants are generally herbaceous and foliage often has a strong, disagreeable odor. They are found native in most regions of the world except for Australia...
known by several common names, including shortspur seablush and rosy plectritis. It is native to western North America from Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
to 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...
, where it is a common plant in coastal forests, seashores, mountain meadows, and other habitat. It is an annual herb growing erect 10 to 60 centimeters tall. The widely-spaced, paired and oppositely arranged leaves are oval or somewhat oblong, smooth-edged, and up to 6 centimeters long by 2 wide. The upper ones lack petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. 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 dense headlike cluster of flowers in shades of bright pink to nearly white. Each flower has an upper and lower lobed lip under a centimeter in length and three protruding stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s tipped with purple anthers bearing yellow pollen
Pollen
Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...
.