Cistanthe quadripetala
Encyclopedia
Cistanthe quadripetala (formerly Calyptridium quadripetalum) is a species of flowering plant in the purslane family
known by the common name four-petalled pussypaws. It is endemic to the North Coast Ranges of California
, where it is an uncommon member of the serpentine soil
s flora on the slopes. It is a small annual plant spreading or erect stems each a few centimeters long. There is a basal rosette of small, thick leaves and a few along the stems. The inflorescence
is a dense cluster of sepal
s and four white to pink round petals.
Portulacaceae
Portulacaceae are a family of flowering plants, comprising about 20 genera with about 500 species, ranging from herbaceous plants to shrubs. The family has been recognised by most taxonomists, and is also known as the purslane family; it has a cosmopolitan distribution, with the highest diversity...
known by the common name four-petalled pussypaws. It is endemic to the North Coast Ranges of 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 an uncommon member of the 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 flora on the slopes. It is a small annual plant spreading or erect stems each a few centimeters long. There is a basal rosette of small, thick leaves and a few along the stems. 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...
is a dense cluster of 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 and four white to pink round petals.