Ceanothus leucodermis

Greene

Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1895: 15. 1895.

Common names: Chaparral whitethorn
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 86. Mentioned on page 79, 89.

Shrubs, evergreen, 1.5–4 m. Stems erect, not rooting at nodes; branchlets light green or grayish green and glaucous, thorn-tipped, round in cross section, rigid, glabrous. Leaves: petiole 3–7 mm; blade flat, ovate to oblong-elliptic, 5–30 × 3–15 mm, base rounded to subcordate, margins usually entire to minutely glandular-serrulate, rarely serrate, glands 16–20, apex acute to obtuse, abaxial surface grayish green, glaucous, glabrous, adaxial surface green, ± glaucous, dull, usually glabrous, sometimes appressed villosulous; 3-veined from base. Inflorescences axillary, usually paniclelike, sometimes racemelike, (3–)5–15 cm. Flowers: sepals, petals, and nectary white to blue. Capsules 3–5 mm wide, lobed; valves smooth, viscid, not crested. 2n = 24.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Rocky slopes, chaparral, oak woodlands, conifer forests.
Elevation: 200–1800 m.

Distribution

V12 750-distribution-map.jpg

Calif., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

Ceanothus leucodermis is a common, often dominant species of chaparral in the mountains of central and southern California. This species is notable in producing serrate to serrulate leaves on stump sprouts following fire (M. Van Rensselaer and H. McMinn 1942). Putative hybrids and advanced generation intermediates with C. oliganthus occur throughout the southern Coast and Transverse ranges of California (McMinn 1944).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Ceanothus leucodermis"
Clifford L. Schmidt† +  and Dieter H. Wilken +
Greene +
Chaparral whitethorn +
Calif. +  and Mexico (Baja California). +
200–1800 m. +
Rocky slopes, chaparral, oak woodlands, conifer forests. +
Flowering Apr–Jun. +
Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew +
Ceanothus leucodermis +
Ceanothus subg. Ceanothus +
species +