Caulanthus californicus
Encyclopedia
Caulanthus californicus (syn.
Stanfordia californica) is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family
known by the common names California jewelflower and St. Francis cabbage.
It is endemic to California
, where it has been known only from the San Joaquin Valley
and the adjacent eastern slopes of the Central Coast Ranges, including the Carrizo Plain
. Its range is dramatically decreased from its historical distribution, and the plant is a federally listed endangered species
.
This is an annual herb producing an erect or spreading branched stem which is variable in height. The rounded or oval, toothed leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and clasp the stem, mainly around the lower part. The inflorescence
produces several rounded flowers, often only along one side of the stem. Each flower has pouched sepal
s which are dark purple when new and turn light green to white as the flower opens. The frilly petals inside are nearly white with purple veining. The fruit is a silique
up to 6 centimeters long.
This endangered plant once occurred across the San Joaquin Valley and well into the surrounding coastal and Transverse Ranges
, as well as the Sierra Nevada foothills. As the Central Valley floor was converted to agriculture
on a large scale, the plant was extirpated
from there. It currently exists in three remaining areas: the Carrizo Plain, Santa Barbara Canyon in Santa Barbara County
, and the Kreyenhagen Hills
in Fresno County
. There are 20 occurrences remaining; at least 35 known occurrences have been extirpated.
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
Stanfordia californica) is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family....
known by the common names California jewelflower and St. Francis cabbage.
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 has been known only from the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
and the adjacent eastern slopes of the Central Coast Ranges, including the Carrizo Plain
Carrizo Plain
The Carrizo Plain is a large enclosed plain, approximately 50 miles long and up to 15 miles across, in southeastern San Luis Obispo County, California, about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California...
. Its range is dramatically decreased from its historical distribution, and the plant is a federally listed endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
.
This is an annual herb producing an erect or spreading branched stem which is variable in height. The rounded or oval, toothed leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and clasp the stem, mainly around the lower part. The 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...
produces several rounded flowers, often only along one side of the stem. Each flower has pouched sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s which are dark purple when new and turn light green to white as the flower opens. The frilly petals inside are nearly white with purple veining. The fruit is a silique
Silique
A silique or siliqua is a fruit of 2 fused carpels with the length being more than three times the width. The outer walls of the ovary usually separate when ripe, leaving a persistent partition...
up to 6 centimeters long.
This endangered plant once occurred across the San Joaquin Valley and well into the surrounding coastal and Transverse Ranges
Transverse Ranges
The Transverse Ranges are a group of mountain ranges of southern California, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region that runs along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico in North America. The Transverse Ranges begin at the southern end of the California Coast Ranges and lie between...
, as well as the Sierra Nevada foothills. As the Central Valley floor was converted to agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
on a large scale, the plant was extirpated
Local extinction
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, is the condition of a species which ceases to exist in the chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere...
from there. It currently exists in three remaining areas: the Carrizo Plain, Santa Barbara Canyon in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
, and the Kreyenhagen Hills
Kreyenhagen Hills
The Kreyenhagen Hills are a mountain range in Fresno County, California....
in Fresno County
Fresno County, California
Fresno County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Stockton and north of Bakersfield. As of the 2010 census, it is the tenth most populous county in California with a population of 930,450, and the sixth largest in size with an area of . The county...
. There are 20 occurrences remaining; at least 35 known occurrences have been extirpated.