Shrubs, erect, 1–2 (–3, rarely to 8) m. Stems ± straight, intricately branched, white-tomentose, glabrescent. Leaves deciduous, sometimes fascicled; petiole 1–4 mm; blade elliptic to oblongelliptic or elliptic-obovate, 1–2.5 (–3.5) cm, coriaceous, base rounded to cuneate, margins entire or mucronulate to obscurely serrulate, teeth (0–) 2–7 per side, apex rounded to truncate, both surfaces usually minutely hirtellous to sparsely pilose, abaxial sometimes strigose; pinnately veined, secondary-veins 3–4 (–5) pairs, ± straight. Inflorescences cymes or thyrses, 2–12-flowered, or flowers solitary; peduncles 1–2 mm; fruiting pedicels 2–4 mm. Capsules 7–9 mm.

Phenology: Flowering (Dec–)Mar–May.
Habitat: Sandy washes, arroyos, alluvial slopes and fans, granite slopes, creosote bush and desert scrubs.
Elevation: (100–)300–1000 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Calif., Nev., Mexico (Baja California), Mexico (Sonora)

Discussion

In Arizona, Colubrina californica occurs in La Paz, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, and Yuma counties; in California, all known records are from Imperial, Riverside, and San Diego counties; in Nevada it is known from Clark County.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.