Ceanothus otayensis description

Ceanothus otayensis

H. E. McMinn, Ceanothus 2:273-4 1942

Otay Mountain Ceanothus

C. Xotayensis H.E. McMinn

Description:

Habit: Shrub to 1.2 m.

Stems: erect, not rooting at nodes; twigs grayish, round, smooth, tomentose, rigid.

Leaves: evergreen, opposite; not clustered; stipules thickened, persistent; petioles 0--2 mm; blades broadly oval,0.5--1.3 x 0.4--1.0 cm, bases cuneate, 1-veined, margins revolute, usually undulate, 3--7 toothed usually above middle, tips truncate, frequently tipped with a tooth, abaxially white to rusty-tomentose, adaxially dull green, tomentose, plane.

Inflorescences: terminal, spike of few-flowered umbels, to 1.8 cm.

Flowers: white to pale blue (with pinkish cast?)

Fruits: globular, 5 mm broad, smooth, horns minute or 0, ridges 0.

Cytology:

Flowering: in early spring

Habitat: dry slopes, chaparral, 600-1100 m.

Range: Calif. [Otay and San Miguel Mts, San Diego Co.]; Mexico, n. Baja California. View Distribution Map.

Other Information:

H.E. McMinn (1942) recognized this entity as intermediate between C. greggii var. perplexans and C. crassifolius and called it C.X otayensis. Since then others, [R. M. Beauchamp 1986] and R. Moran (personal communication), have recognized its species status. The putative parents are not nearby and the species also ranges into Baja California, Mexico.

If you have any comments or information regarding this species, please send mail to Dr. Schmidt.