Ceanothus purpureus

Jepson

Fl. W. Calif., 258. 1901.

Common names: Holly-leaf ceanothus
EndemicConservation concern
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 106. Mentioned on page 96.

Shrubs, 1–2 m. Stems erect to ascending, not rooting at nodes; branchlets reddish-brown, sometimes glaucescent, rigid, glabrate. Leaves not fascicled, spreading to deflexed; petiole 0–2 mm; blade ± cupped, folded lengthwise adaxially, widely elliptic to widely obovate, 12–25 × 7–20 mm, base obtuse to cuneate, margins not revolute, spinose-dentate, teeth 7–15, apex rounded to sharply acute, abaxial surface pale green, sparsely strigillose, especially on veins, adaxial surface green to dark green, glabrous. Inflorescences axillary, 1.2–2.5 cm. Flowers: sepals, petals, and nectary deep blue to purple. Capsules 4–5 mm wide, lobed; valves smooth, horns subapical, prominent, slender, erect, intermediate ridges absent. 2n = 24.


Phenology: Flowering Feb–Apr.
Habitat: Rocky slopes and outcrops derived from volcanic substrates, chaparral, oak woodlands.
Elevation: 100–400 m.

Discussion

Ceanothus purpureus is endemic to the Vaca Mountains (Napa and Solano counties); it has been confused with C. jepsonii, which differs by its 6–8-merous flowers, rugose capsule horns, prominent ridges between the horns, and distribution on serpentine soils.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"thick" is not a number.

... more about "Ceanothus purpureus"
green +  and dark green +
perigynous +  and epigynous +
rounded +  and sharply acute +
Clifford L. Schmidt† +  and Dieter H. Wilken +
Jepson +
obtuse +  and cuneate +
Ceanothus sect. Cerastes +
3-veined +  and veined +
not gland-dotted +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
3[-5]-veined +  and pinnate +
spinulose +, spinose +, serrate +  and entire +
denticulate +, dentate +, crenulate +, crenate +  and serrulate +
widely elliptic;widely obovate +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
not thorn-tipped +
glaucescent +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
Holly-leaf ceanothus +
100–400 m. +
Rocky slopes and outcrops derived from volcanic substrates, chaparral, oak woodlands. +
subapical +
slender +
free +  and adnate +
shallowly cupulate +  and hemispheric +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
deciduous +  and persistent +
spreading +  and deflexed +
intrastaminal +
superior +  and inferior +
not fleshy +
perigynous +  and epigynous +
pink +, usually white +  and cream blue or purple +
adnate +  and distinct +
6 +  and 5 +
clawed +, obovate +  and spatulate +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Flowering Feb–Apr. +
2-4-carpellate +
Fl. W. Calif., +
intermediate +
pink +, usually white +  and cream blue or purple +
distinct +
spreading +  and incurved +
6 +  and 5 +
keeled;lanceolate;deltate +
Endemic +  and Conservation concern +
not rooting +
erect +  and ascending +
Ceanothus purpureus +
Ceanothus subg. Cerastes +
species +
paniclelike +  and racemelike +
not gland-tipped +
unarmed +  and armed +
polygamous +, dioecious +  and synoecious +