Camissonia benitensis
Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 37: 332, fig. 60. 1969.
Herbs villous and also glandular puberulent distally. Stems erect or decumbent, slender, wiry, usually branched, 3–20 cm. Leaves: proximalmost not clustered near base, green or slightly bluish green; blade very narrowly elliptic, 0.7–2 × 0.1–0.3 cm, base cuneate or attenuate, margins sparsely serrulate, apex acute. Flowers opening near sunrise; floral tube ca. 1.2 mm, moderately to very sparsely pubescent inside on proximal 1/2; sepals 3.2–3.5 mm, reflexed in pairs; petals 3.5–4 mm, each ± with 2 red dots basally; episepalous filaments 2 mm, epipetalous filaments 1.2 mm, anthers 0.3–0.6 mm, pollen with usually less than 10% of grains 4-pored; style 2.1–2.5 mm, stigma surrounded by anthers at anthesis. Capsules 15–45 × 0.8–1.3 mm; subsessile. Seeds 0.6–0.8 × 0.3–0.4 mm. 2n = 28.
Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly serpentine soil on alluvial terraces and sandy or gravelly serpentine soil in upland areas in geologic interfaces between serpentine and non-serpentine rock types in Quercus.
Elevation: 600–1400 m.
Discussion
Camissonia benitensis is known from New Idria and nearby serpentine areas, lower Clear Creek drainage and San Carlos Creek, San Benito County, and is reported from adjacent Fresno and Monterey counties. More than 50,000 individuals are known, but their habitat is threatened by off-road vehicles.
P. H. Raven (1969) determined that Camissonia benitensis is a self-compatible tetraploid and autogamous, also stating that C. benitensis is most likely closely related to C. strigulosa.
Selected References
None.