Chorizanthe fimbriata
Chorizanthe orcuttiana
fringe spineflower
Orcutt spineflower, Orcutt's spineflower, San Diego spineflower
basal;
petiole 0.5–3(–5) cm;
blade elliptic to obovate or spatulate, 1–3(–3.5) × 0.2–1(–2.5) cm, thinly pubescent adaxially, sparsely tomentose abaxially.
basal;
petiole 1–2 cm;
blade narrowly oblanceolate, 0.5–1.5 × 0.2–0.35(–0.5) cm, thinly pubescent.
open, reddish;
bracts 3 at proximal node, otherwise 2, sessile, scalelike, linear, acicular, often acerose, 0.1–0.5 cm × 0.5–1 mm, awns straight, 1–2 mm.
with involucres in small clusters 0.5–1 cm diam., greenish;
bracts 2, sessile, unequal, 1 laminar and oblanceolate, 0.3–1 cm × 1–3 mm, awnless, this opposite linear, acicular, greatly reduced, 0.1–0.2 cm × 0.3–0.6 mm bract terminated by short, straight awn 0.6–1 mm.
1(–5+), reddish or greenish, cylindric, not ventricose, 4–6(–7) mm, finely corrugate, with thin hyaline margins between teeth, sparsely to densely pubescent;
teeth divergent, unequal, 3 longer ones 1–3 mm, alternating with 3 shorter ones 0.3–1 mm;
awns straight, unequal, 3 longer ones 1–2.5(–3) mm, shorter one (0.3–)0.5–1.5 mm.
1, greenish, campanulate, 3-ribbed, 0.8–2 mm, faintly corrugate, pubescent;
teeth 3, equal, 1.8–2 mm;
awns uncinate, 0.6–1 mm.
exserted;
perianth bicolored, with floral tube yellow to yellowish white and tepals white to rose, becoming dark rose to red with age, cylindric, 6–9(–10) mm, glabrous abaxially except for few to several scattered hairs ca. midlength along midribs;
tepals connate 1/2 their length, monomorphic, oblong, fimbriate to laciniate apically;
stamens 9, included;
filaments distinct, 3–8 mm, glabrous;
anthers pink to red, oblong, 0.5–0.7 mm.
1, included to slightly exserted;
perianth yellow, cylindric, 1.5–1.8 mm, densely pubescent abaxially;
tepals connate ca. 1/2 their length, monomorphic, narrowly oblanceolate, obtuse to truncate, entire apically, slightly spreading;
stamens 9, slightly exserted;
filaments distinct, 0.5–0.8 mm, glabrous;
anthers reddish, ovate, 0.2–0.3 mm.
brown, lenticular, 3–4 mm.
dark brown, lenticular, 2–2.2 mm.
= (76, 78), 80, (84).
Chorizanthe fimbriata
Chorizanthe orcuttiana
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Chorizanthe fimbriata is our only representative of subsect. Flava, a taxon of six species otherwise confined to Baja California. These are the most elegant of the annual species in their remarkable flowers. The flower color, the fine divisions of the tips of the tepals, plus the handsome habit make them of potential horticultural interest for the “need-to-be-challenged” gardeners. In addition to C. fimbriata var. laciniata, C. pulchella Brandegee would be a worthy introduction. Chorizanthe flava Brandegee has bright yellow flowers that contrast dramatically with its reddish mature inflorescence branches. The large (7–9 mm) flowers of C. mutabilis Brandegee are a wonder to behold, the yellow floral tube contrasting with the white to red of the tepals themselves.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Chorizanthe orcuttiana is known from a few populations on coastal mesas and hills near San Diego, San Diego County. It is federally listed as endangered. The species is an octoploid that may well have resulted from an ancient hybridization and doubling of chromosomes involving C. procumbens and C. polygonoides var. longispina. The Orcutt spineflower grows in soft, white sand; C. procumbens and C. polygonoides var. longispina are restricted to gravelly sites.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Tepals fimbriate apically, distal segments linear to lanceolate, broader than lateral segments; perianths 6-7(-8) mm | var. fimbriata |
1. Tepals laciniate apically, distal segments linear, scarcely broader than lateral segments; perianths 8-9(-10) mm | var. laciniata |
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
