Shrubs, usually 10–30(+) dm. Stems densely branched; prickles present on distal stems and branches, infrastipular erect or curved, subulate or stout, 2–10(–13) mm, internodal usually abundant. Terminal leaflets ovate-elliptic, sometimes obovate, 9–28 mm. Inflorescences 1–3(–5+)-flowered, sometimes 10(–15)-flowered. Sepals: abaxial surfaces eglandular, rarely stipitate-glandular.

Phenology: Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat: Mountain and desert springs, along streams, moist canyons, slopes, yellow pine forests
Elevation: 800–3400 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif., Nev.

Discussion

Subspecies gratissima is diploid [2x (DNA)]. It occurs on mountains in and adjacent to the Mojave Desert of southeastern California and southern Nevada, US Highway 50 across central Nevada approximately coinciding with the boundary with subsp. ultramontana. Plants tend to be densely branched with abundant, relatively stout prickles extending into the inflorescence.

Within subsp. gratissima, localized clusters of glabrous populations on the northern foot of the San Bernardino Mountains represent var. glabrata (Parish) D. Cole (basionym R. californica Chamisso & Schlechtendal var. glabrata Parish); R. mohavensis Parish is a homotypic synonym and R. woodsii var. mohavensis (Parish) Jepson is superfluous and illegitimate. Conservative attention to var. glabrata is warranted. The remainder of subsp. gratissima is var. gratissima. A. Cronquist and N. H. Holmgren (1997) identified the NY syntype of R. gratissima as R. californica; the holotype (NDG 23620) clearly falls within the circumscription here.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.