California macrophylla

California macrophylla

Vulnerable  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Geraniales
Family: Geraniaceae
Genus: California
Aldas, C. Navarro, P. Vargas, Ll. Sáez & Aedo
Species:
C. macrophylla
Binomial name
California macrophylla
(Hook. & Arn.) Aldasoro, C. Navarro, P. Vargas, Ll. Sáez & Aedo
Synonyms

Erodium macrophyllum Hook. & Arn.

California macrophylla, commonly known as roundleaf stork's bill, is a species of flowering plant in the geranium family, Geraniaceae. It was formerly placed in the genus Erodium, but was later placed in a monotypic genus of its own named California.[2]

Description

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It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in open habitat such as grassland and scrub. It is an annual herb that grows only a few centimeters high (1 inch), forming a patch of slightly lobed, somewhat kidney-shaped to rounded leaves on long, slender petioles. Leaves are green dorsally and purple ventrally, often developing clear red veins once the leaves mature. The inflorescence is a fragile umbel of flowers with petals around a centimeter long (0.4 in) and white in color, often tinted pinkish or purplish. Petals break off easily and flowers rarely stay pristine for more than a day.[3] The fruit has a fuzzy base and a long, narrow style which may reach 5 cm (2 in) in length.

References

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  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
  2. ^ Juan José Aldasoro; Carmen Navarro; Pablo Vargas; Llorenç Sáez; Carlos Aedo (2002). "California, a new genus of Geraniaceae endemic to the southwest of North America" (PDF). Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid. 59 (2): 209–216.
  3. ^ Valois, Tony. "Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: California macrophylla". Retrieved 2016-03-30.
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