Armeria maritima subsp. californica
Bull. Natl. Mus. Canada 135: 174. 1955.
Leaf blades glabrous or hairy. Scapes glabrous. Inflorescences: sheath length usually 0.75 times diam. of flower head; outer involucral bracts almost equaling or exceeding flower head. Flowers monomorphic: stigmas papillate, pollen coarsely reticulate; calyx hairy on ribs. 2n = 18.
Phenology: Flowering mid spring-mid summer.
Habitat: Maritime rocks, cliffs, sandy bluffs, sandy dunes
Elevation: 0-200 m
Distribution
B.C., Calif., Oreg., Wash.
Discussion
In northern Washington and on Vancouver Island, populations with hairy leaves have been called Armeria maritima var. purpurea (Koch) G. H. M. Lawrence, a dimorphic-flowered taxon from central Europe. The American monomorphic-flowered specimens thought to belong to var. purpurea are not distinct from subsp. californica, except for their hairy leaves. We include hairy-leaved specimens in subsp. californica.
Selected References
None.