Lepidospartum squamatum

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Lepidospartum squamatum
Lepidospartumsquamatum.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Tribe:
Senecioneae
Genus:
Lepidospartum
Species:
L. squamatum
Binomial name
Lepidospartum squamatum

Lepidospartum squamatum is a species of flowering shrub in the daisy family known by the common names California broomsage and scale broom.

Distribution[]

Lepidospartum squamatum is native to the mountains, valleys, and deserts of central and southern California, and Baja California. It grows in sandy, gravelly soils in a number of habitat types, especially dry alluvial habitat such as arroyos.[1] It is considered an indicator species for the alluvial scrub habitat type in this region.[1][2] It is also commonly found in neighboring Arizona.[3]

Description[]

Lepidospartum squamatum is a large shrub often exceeding two meters in height which takes a spreading, rounded form, its branches are coated in woolly fibers and stubby leaves no more than 3 millimeters long.

The inflorescence is a single flower head or small cluster of up to 5 heads at the ends of branches. The heads are discoid, bearing many yellow tubular disc florets and no ray florets. The fruit is a narrow achene a few millimeters long with a dull white to light brown pappus on top. While in bloom, scale broom will attract a wide variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, and tarantula hawk wasps.

As the fruits mature and the flower parts fall away the inflorescence takes on a cottony look due to all the pappi.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Hanes, T.L., et al. (1989). Alluvial scrub vegetation in coastal southern California. US Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-110
  2. ^ San Bernardino County Museum: Alluvial Fan Sage Scrub Archived 2008-12-23 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ USDA Plants Profile

External links[]

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