Navarretia ojaiensis
| Navarretia ojaiensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Polemoniaceae |
| Genus: | Navarretia |
| Species: | N. ojaiensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Navarretia ojaiensis | |
Navarretia ojaiensis is a rare species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name Ojai navarretia.[1]
Distribution
[edit]The plant is endemic to Southern California. It occurs in Ventura County, California, where it is known from the Ojai Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley, and the Santa Susana Mountains.[2] It also occurs in the Santa Monica Mountains within Los Angeles County.[3]
It is found in open areas of chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and grassland habitats.[1] It grows at elevations of 275–620 metres (902–2,034 ft).[4]
Endangered species
[edit]Navarretia ojaiensis plant is a Critically endangered species on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants.[4]
Many of the known occurrences may no longer exist, because they are in areas that have experienced urban development.[2] All but one of the remaining populations are in locations which are likely to be developed or altered.[2]
Two populations known in the Santa Monica Mountains may have been extirpated.[5] One was on land that was converted to a parking lot at the home of the composer Marco Beltrami.[6] Another population was on a slope in Agoura Hills, which was slated to be cleared for the construction of the new headquarters for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.[7]
Description
[edit]Navarretia ojaiensis is an annual herb with a spreading, upright stem growing up to 33 centimetres (13 in) long. The hairy, glandular leaves have blades divided into narrow, pointed lobes lined with tiny teeth.[8]
The inflorescence has narrow, pointed bracts and sepals around the flowers which are densely coated in shiny hairs and resin glands. The tubular flower corolla is roughly a centimeter long and white in color with purple markings in the throat. The five corolla lobes are pointed and the stamens protrude from within the throat.[8] The bloom period is May to July.[1]
This plant is new to science, having been officially described in 2007, accompanied by an updated key to the genus.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Calflora: Navarretia ojaiensis
- ^ a b c The Nature Conservancy
- ^ Calflora: distribution map of Navarretia ojaiensis
- ^ a b California Native Plant Society, Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02): Navarretia ojaiensis . accessed 28 March 2016.
- ^ California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile of Navarretia ojaiensis
- ^ California Native Plant Society, Channel Islands: Navarretia ojaiensis
- ^ Walla-Murphy, M. Agoura Patch.com: "The Flower and the Foundation", December 9, 2010.
- ^ a b Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Navarretia ojaiensis
- ^ Johnson, L. A. (2007). Two new species and a reassessment of synonymy in the Navarretia pubescens complex (Polemoniaceae) of western North America. Novon. 17:4 454-61.
External links
[edit]- NatureServe critically imperiled species
- Navarretia
- Endemic flora of California
- Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
- Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains
- Natural history of the Transverse Ranges
- Natural history of Los Angeles County, California
- Natural history of Ventura County, California
- Ojai, California
- Santa Susana Mountains
- Plants described in 2007
- Critically endangered flora of California