Ceanothus pumilus
Encyclopedia
Ceanothus pumilus is a species of shrub
in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae
known by the common names dwarf ceanothus and Siskiyou mat. It is native to the mountains of southern Oregon
and northern California
, where it grows in habitat such as coniferous forest and chaparral
, often on serpentine soil
s.
is a small cluster of flowers in shades of blue, lavender, or white. The fruit is a horned capsule about half a centimeter long.
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...
in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae
Rhamnaceae
Rhamnaceae, the Buckthorn family, is a large family of flowering plants, mostly trees, shrubs and some vines.The family contains 50-60 genera and approximately 870-900 species. The Rhamnaceae have a worldwide distribution, but are more common in the subtropical and tropical regions...
known by the common names dwarf ceanothus and Siskiyou mat. It is native to the mountains of southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and northern 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 grows in habitat such as coniferous forest and chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
, often on serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
s.
Description
This is a low-lying to flat shrub taking the form of a mat or bramble up to about 2.5 meters wide. The tiny evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged, each just over a centimeter in maximum length. They are firm and ribbed, flat or cupped, hairless on top and generally hairy and paler in color on the undersides. The inflorescenceInflorescence
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...
is a small cluster of flowers in shades of blue, lavender, or white. The fruit is a horned capsule about half a centimeter long.