Pogogyne abramsii
Encyclopedia
Pogogyne abramsii is a rare species of flowering plant in the mint family
known by the common name San Diego mesa mint. It is endemic to San Diego County, California
, where it is known only from a few sites at vernal pool
s in and around San Diego
and its suburbs. Much of its range is located on the grounds of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
. The plant has been federally listed as an endangered species
since 1978.
This is a small, aromatic, densely hairy annual herb producing erect stems topped with tiny but showy inflorescence
s. The inflorescence contains purple-tinged green bract
s and densely hairy sepal
s surrounding lipped, bell-shaped flowers each about a centimeter long. The flower is pinkish-purple with a purple-spotted white throat. It has a strong mint scent.
The plant is pollinated
by several species of bee, including honey bees
(Apis mellifera), Exomalopsis nitens and E. torticornis, and the bee fly
Bombylius facialis.
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 San Diego mesa mint. It is endemic to 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 is known only from a few sites at 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 in and around San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and its suburbs. Much of its range is located on the grounds of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , formerly Naval Air Station Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force...
. The plant has been federally listed as an 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...
since 1978.
This is a small, aromatic, densely hairy annual herb producing erect stems topped with tiny but showy 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...
s. The inflorescence contains purple-tinged green 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 densely hairy 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 surrounding lipped, bell-shaped flowers each about a centimeter long. The flower is pinkish-purple with a purple-spotted white throat. It has a strong mint scent.
The plant is pollinated
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
by several species of bee, including honey bees
European honey bee
The Western honey bee or European honey bee is a species of honey bee. The genus Apis is Latin for "bee", and mellifera comes from Latin melli- "honey" and ferre "to bear"—hence the scientific name means "honey-bearing bee"...
(Apis mellifera), Exomalopsis nitens and E. torticornis, and the bee fly
Bombyliidae
Bombyliidae is a large family of flies with hundreds of genera, although their life cycles are not well known. Adults generally feed on nectar and pollen, thus are pollinators of flowers. They superficially resemble bees, thus are commonly called bee flies, and this may offer the adults some...
Bombylius facialis.