Encelia californica
Encelia californica | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Tribe: | Heliantheae |
Genus: | Encelia |
Species: | E. californica |
Binomial name | |
Encelia californica Nutt. | |
Synonyms[1] | |
Encelia conspersa A.Gray |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Encelia californica. |
Encelia californica is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name California brittlebush. It is also commonly referred to as "California bush sunflower".[2]
This shrub is native to southern California, Baja California, and Baja California Sur, where it is a member of the coastal sage plant community at the shoreline. It can also be found on inland foothills in the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges.[2][3][4]
It is drought tolerant but not frost tolerant, and needs full sun. It is a host plant for the larvae of the Bay checkerspot butterfly, a threatened species.
- Description
Encelia californica is a bushy, sprawling shrub reaching between 50–150 cm (20-60 inches) in height. It has many thin branches covered in widely spaced green leaves which are a rounded diamond shape. The solitary flower heads are daisylike, with 15 to 25 bright yellow ray florets 1 to 3 centimeters long around a center of protruding yellowish to purplish brown disc florets. The fruit is an achene 5 to 7 millimeters long, with no pappus. It blooms from February to June, and attracts butterflies, bees, and other insects.[5]
References
- ↑ The Plant List, Encelia californica Nutt.
- 1 2 Calflora taxon report, University of California, Encelia californica Nutt., California brittlebush, California encelia, bush sunflower
- ↑ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- ↑ Tropicos, specimen listing for Encelia californica Nutt.
- ↑ Flora of North America Encelia californica Nuttall
External links
- Jepson Manual Treatment - Encelia californica
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile
- Encelia californica - Calphotos Photo gallery, University of california
Data related to Encelia californica at Wikispecies