Prunus ilicifolia var. occidentalis

Brandegee

Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., ser. 2, 1: 209. 1888.

Common names: Catalina cherry
Illustrated
Basionym: Prunus occidentalis W. S. Lyon Bot. Gaz. 11: 202. 1886,
Synonyms: P. ilicifolia subsp. lyonii (Eastwood) P. H. Raven P. lyonii
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 362.

Trees, 40–150 dm. Leaves: petiole 8–25 mm; blade oblong-ovate to ovatelanceolate, 4–12 × 1.5–5.5 (–7) cm, margins not or slightly undulate, usually entire, sometimes remotely spinose-serrulate. Drupes blue-black, 15–25 mm.


Phenology: Flowering Mar–May; fruiting Aug–Nov.
Habitat: Chaparral, woodlands, canyons
Elevation: 0–500 m

Distribution

V9 586-distribution-map.jpg

Calif., Mexico (Baja California)

Discussion

Variety occidentalis is native on the Channel Islands and occasionally escapes from cultivation on the mainland. Some botanists consider it a subspecies or variety of Prunus ilicifolia because the two taxa when grown together hybridize to form viable fertile offspring (P. H. Raven 1963), and since some specimens have more or less toothed leaves, intermediate between the extremes of the two taxa. Others prefer distinct species based on geographic isolation and differences in plant size and habit, leaf margin, petiole length, and fruit color.

Variety integrifolia Sudworth is an illegitimate and superfluous name that pertains here.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
acute;acuminate +
Joseph R. Rohrer +
Brandegee +
dark gray +, gray-brown +, reddish-brown +  and reddish +
compound +  and simple +
opposite +  and alternate +
obtuse +, usually broadly rounded +  and subcordate +
Prunus occidentalis +
5.5 cm55 mm <br />0.055 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (12 cm120 mm <br />0.12 m <br />) +
oblong-ovate +  and ovatelanceolate +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (18 cm180 mm <br />0.18 m <br />) +
membranous +  and leathery +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (?) +  and 5.5 cm55 mm <br />0.055 m <br /> (?) +
free +  and distinct +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br />) +
Catalina cherry +
solitary +, fascicles +, 2-flowered +  and umbellate +
Calif. +  and Mexico (Baja California) +
not +  and aggregated +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br />) +
ellipsoid +  and globose +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
0–500 m +
flattened +
hairy +  and glabrous +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
not +  and aggregated +
not +  and aggregated +
not +  and aggregated +
Chaparral, woodlands, canyons +
persistent +  and deciduous +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
crassinucellate +
persistent +
spinose-serrulate +  and entire +
undulate +
inferior +  and superior +
biseriate +  and clustered +
collateral +  and apical +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0 (?) +  and 4 (?) +
white +  and yellowish +
free +  and distinct +
suborbiculate;obovate;suborbiculate;obovate;elliptic +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
Flowering Mar–May +  and fruiting Aug–Nov. +
adnate +, free +, connate +  and distinct +
Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., ser. +
not arillate +
free +  and distinct +
erect +  and spreading +
triangular +
0.07 cm0.7 mm <br />7.0e-4 m <br /> (0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br />) +
Illustrated +
free +  and distinct +
branched +  and simple +
1 +  and 20 +
linear;lanceolate +
flattened +, subglobose +  and ellipsoid +
deciduous +
distinct +
basal +, lateral +, subterminal +  and terminal +
not elongate +
P. ilicifolia subsp. lyonii +  and P. lyonii +
Prunus ilicifolia var. occidentalis +
Prunus ilicifolia +
variety +
callus-tipped +
inconspicuous +
hairy +  and glabrous +