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Aristocapsa insignis; Indian Valley Spineflower   

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Aristocapsa insignis
Aristocapsa insignis
Indian Valley Spineflower
Photographer: Aaron Schusteff

ID: 0000 0000 1119 1446 (2019-11-16)

Copyright © 2019 Aaron Schusteff

 
INFORMATION PROVIDED WITH THE PHOTO
  • date of photo  May 20, 2015
  • location   Off Hwy 58 between San Juan Creek and Carrizo Plains (San Luis Obispo County, California, US)
  • family Polygonaceae
  • notes   This is a rare and distinctive eriogonoid originally described in 1885 as Chorizanthe (Mucronea) insignis by renowned early California botanist Mary Katherine Curran (AKA Katherine Brandegee).

    The species can be distinguished by its slightly-flaring, mildly-ribbed, tubular involucres with 5 apical lobes each bearing a long, straight, narrow awn. Each involucre contains 4-6 short-pedicelled flowers which open in succession, each one with 6 entire perianth lobes. Opposite each involucre is a one-sided bract with 3 triangular lobes, each with an apical awn. With the long, straight, and narrow awns of its involucres and bracts, it strikes me as more Oxytheca-like than Chorizanthe-like (note in addition that Oxytheca usually have numerous flowers per involucre whereas Chorizanthe have a single flower per involucre).

    Dylan Neubauer provides a very informative discussion of Aristocapsa insignis, which includes info on the taxonomic history of the species. Here are links to some of the references cited there, in reverse chronological order: Reveal & Hardham(1989); Goodman(1957); Abrams & Ferris(1944) (see also figure '1336' here); and Goodman(1934).

  • photo category: Plant - annual/perennial

  • MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PLANT
  • common names   Indian Valley Spineflower (photographer)
  • Look for Jepson Manual treatments, maps (University & Jepson Herbaria)
  • View Calflora record for Aristocapsa insignis
  • View all photos in CalPhotos of Aristocapsa insignis
  • Check Google Images for Aristocapsa insignis


  • The photographer's identification Aristocapsa insignis has not been reviewed. Sign in to review or comment on this photo

     
    Using this photo   The thumbnail photo (128x192 pixels) on this page may be freely used for personal or academic purposes without prior permission under the Fair Use provisions of US copyright law as long as the photo is clearly credited with © 2019 Aaron Schusteff. For other uses, or if you have questions, contact Aaron Schusteff arbonius2[AT]sbcglobal.net. (Replace the [AT] with the @ symbol before sending an email.)


     

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