Leptosiphon aureus
| Leptosiphon aureus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Polemoniaceae |
| Genus: | Leptosiphon |
| Species: | L. aureus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Leptosiphon aureus (Nutt.) J.M.Porter & L.A.Johnson
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Linanthus aureus | |
Leptosiphon aureus (a.k.a. Leptosiphon chrysanthus[1]) is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name golden linanthus.[2]
Description[edit]
Golden linanthus is an annual herb producing a thin, threadlike stem with occasional leaves divided into narrow needlelike lobes. The oppositely arranged leaves are each divided into very narrow bristlelike lobes up to a centimeter long.[3]
The tip of the stem has an inflorescence of usually a single flower with corolla lobes under a centimeter long. The nominate subspecies generally has bright to golden yellow flowers, while ssp. decorus has white or cream blooms. The bloom period is March to June.
Subspecies[edit]
The two subspecies overlap in geography but do not occur together.[3]
- Leptosiphon aureus ssp. aureus (Leptosiphon chrysanthus ssp. chrysanthus) — pinyon-juniper woodlands, madrean pine-oak woodlands in Madrean Sky Islands, and desert flats.
- Leptosiphon aureus subsp. decorus (Leptosiphon chrysanthus ssp. decorus) — endemic to the Mojave Desert in California.
Distribution and habitat[edit]
The plant is native to the Southwestern United States in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Southern California; and to northwestern Mexico in Baja California state.[4]
It grows in desert flats and desert chaparral of the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert; in chaparral and woodlands of the Peninsular Ranges and Transverse Ranges; and in pinyon-juniper woodlands and madrean pine-oak woodlands of Madrean Sky Islands.[2]
References[edit]
External links[edit]
- Leptosiphon
- Flora of the Southwestern United States
- Flora of California
- Flora of Baja California
- Flora of New Mexico
- Flora of the California desert regions
- Flora of the Sonoran Deserts
- Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
- Natural history of the Colorado Desert
- Natural history of the Mojave Desert
- Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges
- Natural history of the Transverse Ranges