Chenopodium californicum

(S. Watson) S. Watson

in W. H. Brewer et al., Bo t. California 2: 48. 1880.

Common names: California goosefoot soap plant
Illustrated
Basionym: Blitum californicum S. Watson Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 9: 10. 1874
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 279. Mentioned on page 276.

Stems erect to ascending, branched at apex of taproot, 2.5–8 dm, somewhat viscid and farinose. Leaves nonaromatic; petiole 1–12 cm; blade triangular, 4.5–10 × 3–9 cm, base truncate to cordate, margins sinuate-dentate, apex acute to acuminate, sparsely farinose. Inflorescences: dense glomerules sessile on terminal spikes; spikes 5–19 cm; glomerules 3–5 mm diam., flowers developing at about same time; bracts leaflike, subtending lower glomerules, absent for over 1/2 inflorescence, triangular, broadly hastate, 1–3.5 × 0.8–4 cm, apex acuminate, base truncate to hastate, sparsely farinose. Flowers: perianth segments connate into 0.5–0.9 mm tube, lobes oblong or elliptic, 0.6–0.9(–1.1) × 0.4–1.2 mm, apex obtuse, rounded or truncate, scarcely abaxially keeled throughout, glabrous, not covering fruit at maturity; stamens (4–)5; stigmas 2. Achenes obovoid; pericarp adherent, ± smooth. Seeds obovoid or rotund, 1.5–2 mm in diam., margins rounded; seed coat black, rugose.


Phenology: Fruiting spring–fall (winter).
Habitat: Dry to moist slopes, ledges, plains, yellow-pine forests, yucca-juniper woodlands, chaparral and under oaks and willows
Elevation: 30-1500 m

Distribution

V4 509-distribution-map.gif

Calif., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Chenopodium californicum"
Steven E. Clemants +  and Sergei L. Mosyakin +
(S. Watson) S. Watson +
Blitum californicum +
California goosefoot +  and soap plant +
Calif. +  and Mexico (Baja California). +
30-1500 m +
Dry to moist slopes, ledges, plains, yellow-pine forests, yucca-juniper woodlands, chaparral and under oaks and willows +
Fruiting spring–fall (winter). +
in W. H. Brewer et al., Bo t. California +
Illustrated +
Blitum sect. Agathophyton +
Chenopodium californicum +
Chenopodium sect. Agathophytum +
species +