familyPolygonaceae
subfamilyPolygonaceae subfam. Eriogonoideae
genusEriogonum
subgenusEriogonum subg. Eucycla
speciesEriogonum giganteum
Eriogonum giganteum var. giganteum
Common names: Santa Catalina Island’s St. Catherine’s-lace
IllustratedEndemic
Plants (3–)5–35 dm. Aerial flowering stems 1–3 dm, tomentose to glabrate. Leaves: petiole 1–3 cm; blade oblong-ovate to ovate, 3–7(–10) × 2–5 cm. Inflorescences open, 10–50(–80) cm wide. Involucres 3–4 mm. Flowers 2–2.5 mm. Achenes 2–2.5 mm. 2n = 40.
Phenology: Flowering year-round.
Habitat: Rocky cliff faces, slopes, and ridges, coastal scrub communities, oak woodlands
Elevation: 0-500 m
Discussion
Of conservation concern.
Variety giganteum occurs naturally only on Santa Catalina Island, Los Angeles County. Mainland introductions occur from Santa Clara County to Los Angeles County; the variety has also been introduced onto Santa Cruz Island, where it threatens the genetic purity of E. arborescens. Garden hybrids between var. giganteum and E. arborescens have been named E. ×blissianum H. Mason.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.