Chorizanthe diffusa
Chorizanthe angustifolia
diffuse spineflower
narrow-leaf spineflower
basal;
petiole 0.2–1.8(–2) cm;
blade oblanceolate, 0.3–2 × 0.1–0.4 cm, villous.
basal;
petiole 1–4 cm;
blade oblanceolate, (0.5–)1–4(–5) × (0.2–)0.3–0.6 cm, villous.
rather dense with secondary branches suppressed, white to greenish;
bracts 2, similar to leaf blades at proximal nodes only reduced, short-petiolate, becoming linear and aciculate at distal nodes, acerose, 0.3–2 cm × 1–4 mm, awns absent.
rather dense with secondary branches suppressed, grayish to reddish;
bracts 2, similar to proximal leaf blades only reduced, short-petiolate, becoming linear and aciculate at distal nodes, acerose, 1–4 cm × 2–8(–10) mm, awns absent.
1, mostly greenish, cylindric, not ventricose, 2–2.5 mm, with thin to broad and then conspicuous white or pinkish to purple, scarious margins extending nearly full length of awn, not corrugate, villous-hirsute;
teeth spreading to divergent, equal, 0.5–1 mm, awns uncinate with longer ones 1–2 mm, anterior one mostly 2 mm, alternating with shorter (0.5–1 mm) ones.
1, reddish, cylindric, not ventricose, 1.5–2(–2.5) mm, without scarious margins or if so then pinkish, thin, and restricted to basal portion of teeth, not corrugate, villous abaxially;
teeth spreading, equal, 0.5–1.5(–2) mm;
awns uncinate with longer ones 1.5–2.5 mm and anterior one mostly 2–2.5 mm, these alternating with shorter 1–1.5 mm ones.
exserted;
perianth bicolored with floral tube lemon-yellow and tepals white, campanulate, 2.5–3 mm, glabrous;
tepals connate ca. 1/3 their length, monomorphic, oblong, acute to obtuse and entire apically;
stamens 3–9, slightly exserted;
filaments distinct, 1.5–2 mm, glabrous;
anthers yellow, oval, 0.3–0.4 mm.
slightly exserted;
perianth bicolored with floral tube white and tepals white to rose, campanulate, 2–3 mm, pubescent abaxially;
tepals connate 1/3 their length, monomorphic, oblong, usually rounded and erose apically;
stamens 3 or 6–9, slightly exserted;
filaments distinct, 2–2.5 mm, glabrous;
anthers cream to rose, ovate, 0.2–0.3 mm.
dark brown, globose-lenticular, 2–2.5 mm.
light brown, globose-lenticular, 2–2.5 mm.
= 38, 40, 42.
= 38, 40, (42, 44, 46).
Chorizanthe diffusa
Chorizanthe angustifolia
The involucral margins of Chorizanthe diffusa vary greatly. In some individuals, the white margins are barely visible. Plants with the margins of the involucre are predominantly white have been designated var. nivea. A full gradation between the extremes may be observed in most populations, although in coastal sands var. nivea is often the dominant expression. Diffuse spineflower occurs near the coast and in the Coast Ranges of central California.
Chorizanthe diffusa has been shown to inhibit carcinogen-induced preneoplastic lesions in a mouse mammary-organ culture model. This inhibitory activity is known to correlate with cancer chemopreventive effects in full-term models of tumorigenesis (see H. S. Chung et al. 1999).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Chorizanthe angustifolia is common along the immediate coast and mesas mainly in west-central California. Plants with slightly scarious, pink involucral margins have been distinguished as var. eastwoodiae, but as both this and the nonscarious var. angustifolia occur together, no distinction is made here. William Gambel obtained the only collection known from Los Angeles County in the 1840s; it has not been found there since. Narrow-leaf spineflower often grows with C. diffusa in intermingled populations and care must be taken to avoid mixed collections.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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