Malacothamnus densiflorus

Shrubs, 1–2 m, branches slender, indument tawny, sparse to moderately dense, stellate hairs sessile or subsessile, usually overlain by 1–2–few-armed, bristly hairs to 3 mm, glandular hairs often abundant. Leaf blades ovate, broadly ovate, or round, unlobed or 3- or 5-lobed, 3–6 cm, often leathery, surfaces: abaxial sometimes glossy green, adaxial densely tawny-hairy, basal sinus open, not overlapping. Inflorescences interrupted, spicate, flower clusters sessile, glomerate, 10+-flowered; involucellar bractlets awl-shaped to filiform, 5–15 × 1 mm, 2/3–1 1/2 times calyx length. Flowers: calyx angled in bud, 6–14 mm, lobes triangular to ovate, 4–11 × 2.3–3.5(–5) mm, slightly less to slightly more than 2 times as long as wide, equaling to 3 times tube length, apex acute to acuminate, sparsely bristly-hairy, hairs 1–few-armed, to 3 mm; petals pale pink, 1–2 cm. Mericarps 2.4–3.2 mm. 2n = 34.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Jun(Sep–Oct).
Habitat: Chaparral, coastal sage scrub ecotone
Elevation: (100–)300–1100 m

Calif., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

Malacothamnus densiflorus occurs in the southern Coast Ranges. Plants with relatively short involucellar bractlets and calyx measurements in the lower range have been recognized as var. viscidus; intergradation with more typical forms is complete. Malacothamnus densiflorus intergrades with M. fasciculatus at lower elevations of the coastal Peninsula Ranges in San Diego County.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa