Artemisia rothrockii
Encyclopedia
Artemisia rothrockii is a rare species of sagebrush known by the common names timberline sagebrush and Rothrock sagebrush.
It is endemic to California
, where it is native to parts of the Sierra Nevada, the White Mountains
, and the San Bernardino Mountains
. It grows at elevations between 2000 and 3500 meters. This mountain shrub
grows to heights of 20 to 50 centimeters, producing many upright stems from a narrow trunk. The evergreen foliage is dark green, glandular, sticky, and very aromatic. New twigs and leaves are somewhat woolly, but older parts are hairless. The narrow inflorescence
holds clusters of flower heads
lined with rough, shiny, slightly hairy phyllaries
and containing yellowish disc florets. The fruit is an achene
up to 2 millimeters long, sometimes with a pappus
.
It is endemic to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it is native to parts of the Sierra Nevada, the White Mountains
White Mountains (California)
The White Mountains of California are a triangular fault block mountain range facing the Sierra Nevada across the upper Owens Valley. They extend for approximately as a greatly elevated plateau about wide on the south, narrowing to a point at the north, with elevations generally increasing...
, and the San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range north and east of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States. The mountains run for approximately 60 miles east-west on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in southwestern San Bernardino County, north of the...
. It grows at elevations between 2000 and 3500 meters. This mountain shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
grows to heights of 20 to 50 centimeters, producing many upright stems from a narrow trunk. The evergreen foliage is dark green, glandular, sticky, and very aromatic. New twigs and leaves are somewhat woolly, but older parts are hairless. The narrow inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
holds clusters of flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
lined with rough, shiny, slightly hairy phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
and containing yellowish disc florets. The fruit is an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
up to 2 millimeters long, sometimes with a pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
.