Carpenteria californica

Torrey

Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 6(2): 12, plate 7. 1853.

IllustratedEndemicConservation concern
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 485.

Stems 10–30 (–40) dm. Twigs glabrous or sparsely to moderately appressed-pubescent. Leaves: petiole (2–) 5–10 mm, appressed-pubescent abaxially, glabrous or sparsely pubescent adaxially; blade 2.7–8.5 (–10) × 0.8–2.5 (–3.6) cm, base attenuate, apex acute to rounded, abaxial surface whitish, densely appressed-tomentulose, adaxial green, glabrous. Inflorescences open; peduncle 1.5–5 cm, glabrous or sparingly appressed-pubescent; bracts prominent, sessile. Pedicels 1.5–5.2 mm, sparsely to densely strigose. Flowers fragrant; hypanthium 2–4 × 8–13 mm; sepals (6–) 8–14 × (3–) 4–6 mm, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate, abaxial surface glabrous or sparingly pubescent except for tomentulose tip; petals 20–40 × 20–36 (–40) mm; filaments 4–9 × 0.2–0.6 mm; anthers 0.9–1.1 mm; style 3.5–6 mm. Capsules 10–12 × 8–12 mm. Seeds 0.7–1 mm. 2n = 20.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes in chaparral and lower ponderosa pine woodlands.
Elevation: 300–1500 m.

Discussion

Carpenteria californica is a fire-adapted shrub endemic to the central and southern Sierra Nevada Foothills between the Kings and San Joaquin rivers, Fresno County (R. Casamajor 1950). Rare in the wild, it has a long history of cultivation in both Europe and the United States, including elsewhere in California (N. H. Cheatham 1974), where it is prized for its lightly scented, showy flowers and attractive, persistent foliage. The plant does well in sunny or partially shaded, sheltered sites with well-drained soils.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."connate" is not a number. "distinct" is not a number.

... more about "Carpenteria californica"
pubescent +, glabrous +  and appressed-tomentulose +
distinct +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br />) +
tapered +  and terete +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.06 cm0.6 mm <br />6.0e-4 m <br />) +
depressed-ovate +
0.09 cm0.9 mm <br />9.0e-4 m <br /> (0.11 cm1.1 mm <br />0.0011 m <br />) +
acute +  and acuminate +
Craig C. Freeman +
Torrey +
exfoliating +
attenuate +
8.5 cm85 mm <br />0.085 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (3.6 cm36 mm <br />0.036 m <br />) +
2.7 cm27 mm <br />0.027 m <br /> (8.5 cm85 mm <br />0.085 m <br />) +
lanceolate +  and narrowly elliptic or oblong +
herbaceous;coriaceous +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
spreading;ascending +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
conic +  and depressed-spheric +
corticate +  and coriaceous +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
3-9(-13)-flowered +
300–1500 m. +
fragrant +
loculicidal +  and septicidal +
intercostal +  and interstylar +
Dry, rocky slopes in chaparral and lower ponderosa pine woodlands. +
free +  and adnate +
patelliform +
axillary +  and terminal +
persistent +
acrodromous +  and pinnate +
plane +, denticulate +  and entire +
1/2 +  and 0 +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.52 cm5.2 mm <br />0.0052 m <br />) +
appressed-pubescent +  and glabrous +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
3.6 cm36 mm <br />0.036 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
20mm;40mm +
spreading +  and reflexed +
depressed-elliptic +, round +  and ovate +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (3.6 cm36 mm <br />0.036 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
pubescent +, glabrous +  and appressed-pubescent +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
Flowering Apr–Jun. +
5-7-carpellate +
Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. +
reddish-brown +  and brown +
ellipsoid +
0.07 cm0.7 mm <br />7.0e-4 m <br /> (0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br />) +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
persistent +
connate +  and distinct +
appressed-pubescent +
ovate +  and ovatelanceolate or triangular +
enlarged +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
Illustrated +, Endemic +  and Conservation concern +
free +, connate +  and distinct +
spreading;ascending;spreading;ascending;erect +
2 +  and 12 +
persistent +
0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
Carpenteria californica +
Carpenteria +
species +
tomentulose +
glabrous or +  and sparsely moderately appressed-pubescent +
deciduous +  and evergreen +