Ceanothus crassifolius
in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 4(5): 75. 1857.
Shrubs, 1.5–4 m. Stems erect, not rooting at nodes; branchlets grayish brown to brown, ± flexible to rigid, tomentulose, hairs straight. Leaves not fascicled; petiole 2–6 mm; blade flat to ± cupped, elliptic to widely elliptic, 12–25(–30) × 8–15(–23) mm, base obtuse to rounded, margins thick or revolute, entire to denticulate most of length, teeth 8–19, apex obtuse to rounded, abaxial surface pale green to white, tomentulose to glabrate, adaxial surface green, sparsely tomentulose, hairs straight, glabrescent. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, 1–2 cm. Flowers: sepals and petals white; nectary blue to black. Capsules 5–9 mm wide, sometimes weakly lobed at apex; valves viscid, smooth, horns lateral, prominent, erect, intermediate ridges absent. 2n = 24.
Distribution
Calif., nw Mexico.
Discussion
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Key
| 1 | Leaf blade abaxial surfaces densely tomentulose, veins obscured, margins denticulate and revolute. | Ceanothus crassifolius var. crassifolius |
| 1 | Leaf blade abaxial surfaces sparsely tomentulose to glabrate, veins evident, margins entire to weakly denticulate, thick to weakly revolute. | Ceanothus crassifolius var. planus |