Ceanothus velutinus

Douglas in W. J. Hooker

Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 125, plate 45. 1831.

Common names: Varnish-leaf ceanothus
Endemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 83. Mentioned on page 81, 84.

Shrubs, sometimes arborescent, evergreen, 1–6 m. Stems ascending to erect, not rooting at nodes; branchlets brown, not thorn-tipped, round in cross-section, flexible or ± rigid, puberulent, glabrescent. Leaves: petiole 9–32 mm; blade aromatic, flat, widely elliptic to ovate-elliptic, (25–) 40–80 (–130) × (13–) 20–55 (–60) mm, leathery, resinous, base subcordate to rounded, margins glandular-serrulate, teeth 93–150+, apex obtuse, abaxial surface pale green, velvety puberulent, especially on veins, or glabrous, adaxial surface dark green, shiny, glabrous; 3-veined from base. Inflorescences axillary, paniclelike, 5–12 cm. Flowers: sepals and petals cream; nectary yellow-tinged. Capsules 3–4 mm wide, lobed at apex; valves smooth or ± rugose, sometimes viscid, weakly crested or not crested.

Distribution

V12 16-distribution-map.jpg

Alta., B.C., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg., S.Dak., Wash., Wyo.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

A common shrub on mountain slopes, Ceanothus velutinus, which reproduces by both seeds and layering, often forms large colonies, especially following fires or forest clearing. The leaves of C. velutinus are strongly aromatic (often vanilla-scented) when crushed, and the adaxial faces, especially in var. laevigatus, appear varnished.

An infusion of leaves of Ceanothus velutinus was used by Native Americans in cleansing and to treat skin inflammations (D. E. Moerman 1998).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Leaf blade abaxial surfaces velvety puberulent, especially on veins; capsule valves smooth. Ceanothus velutinus var. velutinus
1 Leaf blade abaxial surfaces glabrous, veins glabrous or sparsely puberulent; capsule valves ± rugose. Ceanothus velutinus var. laevigatus

"thin" is not a number.

... more about "Ceanothus velutinus"
glabrous +, puberulent +  and velvety +
perigynous +  and epigynous +
Clifford L. Schmidt† +  and Dieter H. Wilken +
Douglas in W. J. Hooker +
subcordate +  and rounded +
3-veined +  and veined +
8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br /> (13 cm130 mm <br />0.13 m <br />) +
5.5 cm55 mm <br />0.055 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
not gland-dotted +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br />) +
3[-5]-veined +  and pinnate +
spinulose +, spinose +, serrate +  and entire +
denticulate +, dentate +, crenulate +, crenate +  and serrulate +
aromatic +
widely elliptic;ovate-elliptic +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (5.5 cm55 mm <br />0.055 m <br />) +
not thorn-tipped +
glabrescent +  and puberulent +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
Varnish-leaf ceanothus +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Nev. +, Oreg. +, S.Dak. +, Wash. +  and Wyo. +
free +  and adnate +
shallowly cupulate +  and hemispheric +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (12 cm120 mm <br />0.12 m <br />) +
deciduous +  and persistent +
glandular-serrulate +
yellow-tinged +
intrastaminal +
superior +  and inferior +
not fleshy +
perigynous +  and epigynous +
adnate +  and distinct +
6 +  and 5 +
clawed +, obovate +  and spatulate +
0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br /> (3.2 cm32 mm <br />0.032 m <br />) +
2-4-carpellate +
Fl. Bor.-Amer. +
distinct +
spreading +  and incurved +
6 +  and 5 +
keeled;lanceolate;deltate +
not rooting +
ascending +  and erect +
3-veined +  and veined +
Ceanothus velutinus +
Ceanothus subg. Ceanothus +
species +
paniclelike +  and racemelike +
gland-tipped +
rugose +  and smooth +
not crested +  and crested +
unarmed +  and armed +
polygamous +, dioecious +  and synoecious +