Encelia californica

Encelia californica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Heliantheae
Genus: Encelia
Species: E. californica
Binomial name
Encelia californica
Nutt.
Synonyms[1]

Encelia conspersa A.Gray

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Encelia californica is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name California brittlebush. It is also commonly referred to as "California bush sunflower".[2]

This shrub is native to southern California, Baja California, and Baja California Sur, where it is a member of the coastal sage plant community at the shoreline. It can also be found on inland foothills in the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges.[2][3][4]

It is drought tolerant but not frost tolerant, and needs full sun. It is a host plant for the larvae of the Bay checkerspot butterfly, a threatened species.

Description

Encelia californica is a bushy, sprawling shrub reaching between 50–150 cm (20-60 inches) in height. It has many thin branches covered in widely spaced green leaves which are a rounded diamond shape. The solitary flower heads are daisylike, with 15 to 25 bright yellow ray florets 1 to 3 centimeters long around a center of protruding yellowish to purplish brown disc florets. The fruit is an achene 5 to 7 millimeters long, with no pappus. It blooms from February to June, and attracts butterflies, bees, and other insects.[5]

References

  1. ↑ The Plant List, Encelia californica Nutt.
  2. 1 2 Calflora taxon report, University of California, Encelia californica Nutt., California brittlebush, California encelia, bush sunflower
  3. ↑ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  4. ↑ Tropicos, specimen listing for Encelia californica Nutt.
  5. ↑ Flora of North America Encelia californica Nuttall

Data related to Encelia californica at Wikispecies


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