| Lasthenia maritima | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Farallon Islands, California: a hillside covered in L. maritima | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Lasthenia |
| Species: | L. maritima |
| Binomial name | |
| Lasthenia maritima | |
| Synonyms | |
Baeria maritima | |
Lasthenia maritima is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names maritime goldfields and seaside goldfields.
It is native to the coastline of western North America, where it is found almost exclusively on small rocky, coastal islands in the Pacific Ocean between Vancouver Island in British Columbia to the Farallon Islands off the coast of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. [1]
This species probably evolved from Lasthenia minor , and it is adapted to the unique conditions on these maritime islands: high winds, saline sea spray, and thin soils that are often disturbed by the activities of the seabirds that roost and nest on these rocks and made acidic and nitrogen-rich from their droppings. [2]
Though limited in distribution, this is one of the more common plants on the Farallon Islands of California, where it is an important part of the ecology of seabirds and where it is locally known as Farallon weed. [3]
Lasthenia maritima is an annual herb with short, decumbent to prostrate stems lined with fleshy lobed or unlobed leaves up to 9 centimeters long.
The inflorescence bears flower heads lined with hairy phyllaries and ringed with 7 to 12 gold ray florets each about 3 millimeters long.
The fruit is a small, hairy achene often topped with a brownish pappus.
Seabirds are birds that are adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations. The first seabirds evolved in the Cretaceous period, and modern seabird families emerged in the Paleogene.
The Farallon Islands, or Farallones, are a group of islands and sea stacks in the Gulf of the Farallones, off the coast of San Francisco, California, United States. The islands are also sometimes referred to by mariners as the Devil's Teeth Islands, in reference to the many treacherous underwater shoals in their vicinity. The islands lie 30 miles (48 km) outside the Golden Gate and 20 miles (32 km) south of Point Reyes, and are visible from the mainland on clear days. The islands are part of the City and County of San Francisco. The only inhabited portion of the islands is on Southeast Farallon Island (SEFI), where researchers from Point Blue Conservation Science and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stay. The islands are closed to the public.
Cassin's auklet is a small, chunky seabird that ranges widely in the North Pacific. It nests in small burrows and because of its presence on well studied islands in British Columbia and off California it is one of the better known auks. It is named for the American ornithologist John Cassin.
Aire Point to Carrick Du SSSI is a Site of Special Scientific Interest on the Penwith Peninsula, Cornwall, England. It is 5.98 square kilometres in extent, stretching from grid reference SW360279 to grid reference SW513410. The site is designated both for its biological and its geological interest.
Lasthenia, commonly known as goldfields, is a genus of the botanical family Asteraceae. The genus is named after Lasthenia of Mantinea, a cross-dressing female pupil of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato.
Drimia maritima is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. This species is known by several common names, including squill, sea squill, sea onion, and maritime squill. It may also be called red squill, particularly a form which produces red-tinged flowers instead of white. It is native to southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa.
Lasthenia burkei is a rare species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names Burke's goldfields and Burke's baeria.
Chlorogalum purpureum is a species of flowering plant related to the agaves known by the common name purple amole.
Lasthenia californica is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name California goldfields. It is native to California, Oregon and surrounding areas, where it is a very common member of the flora in a number of habitat types.
Lasthenia chrysantha is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name alkalisink goldfields. It is endemic to the California Central Valley, where it grows in vernal pools and alkali flats.
Lasthenia coronaria is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name royal goldfields. It is native to California and Baja California, including Guadalupe Island.
Lasthenia ferrisiae is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name Ferris' goldfields. It is endemic to the California Central Valley, where it grows in vernal pools and alkali flats.
Lasthenia fremontii is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name Frémont's goldfields. It is endemic to the California Central Valley, where it grows in vernal pools and meadows.
Lasthenia glaberrima is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names smooth goldfields and rayless goldfields. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in wet places such as vernal pools and springtime meadows.
Lasthenia glabrata is a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names yellowray goldfields and yellow-rayed lasthenia. It is endemic to California, where it is a resident of vernal pools and other moist areas in a number of habitat types. It is widespread across much of the state, from San Diego County to Tehama County.
Lasthenia microglossa is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name smallray goldfields. It is endemic to California, where it grows in shady areas in a number of habitats.
Lasthenia minor is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name coastal goldfields. It is endemic to California, where it is a resident of coastal and inland grassland habitat.
Blennosperma bakeri is a rare species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names Baker's stickyseed and Sonoma sunshine.
Lasthenia platycarpha is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name alkali goldfields. It is endemic to California, where it is known mainly from the Central Valley.
Wingletang Down is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the southern side of the island of St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly, England, UK, which is noted for its biological characteristics. The site is managed by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust and is within the Isles of Scilly Heritage Coast and the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is the only site in Great Britain and Ireland for the small fern, least adder's–tongue. As of 11 September 2009 the SSSI was considered to be in ″unconditional recovering″ condition because European gorse and bramble are at unacceptable levels.
Media related to Lasthenia maritima at Wikimedia Commons