Suaeda californica | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Amaranthaceae |
Genus: | Suaeda |
Species: | S. californica |
Binomial name | |
Suaeda californica | |
Synonyms | |
Suaeda americana Contents |
Suaeda californica is a rare species of flowering plant in the amaranth family known by the common name California seablite. [2] It is now endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California, where it is known from a few occurrences in the marshes around Morro Bay, historical populations around San Francisco Bay have been extirpated. [1]
Suaeda californica is a mound-shaped shrub up to 80 centimeters tall with hairless or slightly hairy succulent green or red-tinged herbage. The woody stems have many branches which are covered with the knoblike bases of old leaves. Between these grow the new leaves, which are lance-shaped and up to 3.5 centimeters long. The flowers occur between the leaves, all along the stems. Each cluster has 1 to 5 flowers and is accompanied by a leaflike bract. The calyx is a cone of fleshy, rounded sepals, and there are no petals. The fruit is an utricle that grows within the calyx.
This rare plant, Suaeda californica, grows in a restricted area within the intertidal zone of salt marshes. [3] It is threatened by anything that alters the hydrology of the area, such as changes in sedimentation, including dredging, erosion, and recreation. [1] It requires a porous substrate high in nitrogen, which may come from decaying plant matter and bird droppings. [4] Invasive plant species such as introduced ice plant threaten remaining occurrences and reintroductions. [4]
It once occurred around the San Francisco Bay, but any populations there are now extirpated. [1] It probably once grew along the Petaluma River north of the bay, as remains of the species have been found in adobe bricks there. [5] By 1991 the total remaining number of individuals was estimated to be below 500, and the plant was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1994. [1] [3] Some carefully tended populations have been planted as reintroductions at locations around the San Francisco Bay. [4] [6]
Acanthomintha duttonii is a species of annual plant endemic to San Mateo County, California in the family Lamiaceae. It is commonly called San Mateo thornmint and is found growing on serpentine soils near the Crystal Springs Reservoir in a six-mile (10 km) long strip on the east side of Montara Mountain at elevations of approximately 150 to 300 meters.
Cirsium fontinale, the fountain thistle, is a flowering perennial herb in the family Asteraceae. It is endemic to California. The genus Cirsium is commonly known as the "thistle" genus, Cirsium being the Greek word for 'thistle.'
Eriodictyon altissimum is a rare species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common name Indian Knob mountainbalm. It is endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California, where it is known from only about six occurrences in the Irish Hills on the coast and nearby Indian Knob.
Arctostaphylos morroensis is a species of manzanita known by the common name Morro manzanita. This shrub is endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California, where it is known only from the vicinity of Morro Bay.
Hooveria purpurea is a species of flowering plant related to the agaves known by the common name purple amole. This species of soap plant is endemic to California, where it grows in the Santa Lucia Range, in the Central Coast region. There are two varieties of this plant, and both are believed to be quite rare. It is a federally listed threatened species.
Arenaria paludicola is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names marsh sandwort and swamp sandwort. The plant grows in wet areas, such as marsh and bog.
Cirsium hydrophilum is a species of thistle which is endemic to California, where it is found only in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. This native thistle grows in wet boggy habitats.
Cirsium loncholepis is a rare species of thistle known by the common name La Graciosa thistle. It is endemic to California, where it is known from about 15 remaining occurrences in wetlands where southwestern San Luis Obispo County borders northwestern Santa Barbara County. It grows in coastal scrub and sand dunes, marshes, and moist grasslands in the watersheds of local rivers, including the Santa Maria River. It is a federally listed endangered species.
Leptosiphon grandiflorus is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common names large-flower linanthus and large flowered leptosiphon.
Oenothera californica, known by the common name California evening primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family.
Orcuttia californica is a rare species of grass known by the common name California Orcutt grass.
Polygonum marinense is a rare North American species of flowering plants in the buckwheat family known by the common name Marin knotweed. It is endemic to California, where it is known from just a few locations north and east of San Francisco Bay.
Sibara filifolia, the Santa Cruz Island winged rockcress or Santa Cruz Island rockcress, is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is endemic to the Channel Islands of California, where it is now known from a few occurrences on San Clemente Island and one population on Catalina Island.
Sporobolus foliosus is a species of grass known by the common name California cordgrass. It was reclassified from Spartina foliosa after a taxonomic revision in 2014. It is native to the salt marshes and mudflats of coastal California and Baja California, especially San Francisco Bay. It is a perennial grass growing from short rhizomes. It produces single stems or clumps of thick, fleshy stems that grow up to 1.5 meters tall. They are green or purple-tinged. The long, narrow leaves are flat or rolled inward. The inflorescence is a narrow, dense, spike-like stick of branches appressed together, the unit reaching up to 25 centimeters long. The lower spikelets are sometimes enclosed in the basal sheaths of upper leaves.
Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus is a subspecies of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name Metcalf Canyon jewelflower. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the Central Coast Ranges in the San Francisco Bay Area. It grows in open areas such as grasslands, often on serpentine soils.
Stylocline citroleum is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name oil neststraw.
Suaeda calceoliformis is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae known by several common names, including Pursh seepweed and horned seablite.
Suaeda taxifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae known by the common name woolly seablite.
Suaeda maritima is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae known by the common names herbaceous seepweed and annual seablite.
Mucronea californica is a rare species of annual plant in the family Polygonaceae known by the common names California spineflower or California mucronea. An ephemeral plant found growing in the sandy microhabitats of coastal sage scrub, chaparral and dunes, this plant is threatened by the urbanization and development of its viable habitat and has been locally extirpated over much of its range. It has small, white to pink flowers that top inflorescences spined with awns.