Jepsonia
Jepsonia heterandra
jepsonia
foothill jepsonia, foothills jepsonia
branched, flat.
(usually appearing in autumn or winter after basal leaves have withered), erect or ascending, leafless, 3–28 cm, stipitate-glandular, slightly viscid.
in basal rosette and cauline;
stipules present;
petiole stipitate-glandular;
blade ovate to suborbiculate or orbiculate-reniform, shallowly lobed, base cordate, ultimate margins crenate with callous-apiculate teeth, apex obtuse to rounded, surfaces hairy;
venation palmate.
2–3.
cymose panicles, (origin of inflorescences not readily resolvable), 2–17-flowered, sometimes flowers solitary, bracteate, (simple or branched distally, glandular-viscid or glabrate).
diffuse, (3–)4–17(–25)-flowered;
bracts scalelike;
peduncle pink or reddish, drying tan or reddish, branched near middle, 3–23 cm.
heterostylous;
hypanthium free from ovary except at base, yellow-green to pinkish;
sepals 5, yellow-green to pinkish;
petals 5, white, veins prominently colored, (spatulate to elliptic, glabrous);
nectary tissue not visible;
stamens 10;
filaments subulate, (alternate ones surpassing sepals);
ovary superior, 2-locular, carpels connate to middle;
placentation axile (appearing marginal);
styles 2;
stigmas 2.
hypanthium campanulate, 1.5–3 mm, length to 1.5 times sepals;
sepals pink, 1.3–2 mm, base flattened, glandular-viscid;
petals withering, alternate with sepals, distinct, white with deep pink veins, 3.5–6 mm.
folliclelike, 2-beaked.
whitish green or red with red striations, ovoid or ellipsoid, beaks divergent.
brownish, irregular in outline with pinched, curved base, reticulate with longitudinal wings or ridges.
light brown.
bluish or cream.
= 7.
= 14.
Jepsonia
Jepsonia heterandra
Species 3 (3 in the flora).
Jepsonia is characterized by heterostylous flowers that are produced in the autumn after summer drought; some flowers have long styles and short stamens; others have short styles and long stamens. The floral differences associated with heterostyly within populations in this genus are part of an incompatibility mechanism that prevents self-fertilization. Leaves appear after flowering and persist through the winter if moisture is available. Rarely, leaves and flowers are present simultaneously. All three species of Jepsonia also produce a secondary taproot each year. This structure begins to grow after seasonal rains and shrivels before flowering begins. It apparently acts as a contractile root. The three species in this genus are narrow allopatric endemics.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Jepsonia heterandra is relatively uncommon and is apparently restricted to crevices and alluvium of very specific rock types. It has been suggested (R. Ornduff 1969b) that both the mineral content and texture of the substrate influence the distribution of this species. Heterostyly in the genus was first recognized by Eastwood in her description of this species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Caudices unbranched, ovoid to spheric; leaves 1(-3); inflorescences 1-5(-10)-flowered; hypanthia 2+ times sepals; sw California, n Baja California. | J. parryi |
1. Caudices branched, ovoid or flat; leaves 2-3; inflorescences (3-)4-17(-25)-flowered; hypanthia ± equaling or to 1.5 times sepals; Sierra Nevada foothills or Channel Islands | → 2 |
2. Peduncles pink or reddish, branched near middle; petals withering; pollen bluish or cream; seeds light brown. | J. heterandra |
2. Peduncles greenish or olive, branched distally; petals persistent; pollen yellowish; seeds dark brown. | J. malvifolia |
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
