Dudleya verityi
Encyclopedia
Dudleya verityi is a rare species of succulent plant
known by the common name Verity's liveforever. It is endemic to Ventura County, California
, where it is known from only three occurrences in the vicinity of Conejo Mountain between Camarillo
and Thousand Oaks
. It probably occurs in a few additional locations nearby which have not yet been officially vouchered.
several centimeters long. The leaves appear in a basal rosette about the caudex, each oblong to lance-shaped and generally pointed. The leaves are waxy in texture, pale grayish or pinkish green in color, and up to 5 centimeters long. The erect inflorescence
is composed of a bract
-lined peduncle
up to 15 centimeters tall which splits into terminal branches each bearing several flowers. The flower has a base of fleshy, triangular sepal
s and longer, bright yellow petals just over a centimeter long.
es and lichen
s. It often grows in layers of the lichen Niebla ceruchoides, which may provide a moisture-capturing bed for seeds that fall from it. This dudleya hybridizes with other species, such as Blochman's liveforever
(Dudleya blochmaniae).
This species is only found on one edge of the Santa Monica Mountains
, where it occurs in coastal sage scrub
habitat. The dominant plants are California sagebrush
(Artemisia californica), California buckwheat
(Eriogonum fasciculatum) and purple sage
(Salvia leucophylla). At least two occurrences are within the campus bounds of California State University, Channel Islands
.
Succulent plant
Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots...
known by the common name Verity's liveforever. It is endemic to Ventura County, California
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
, where it is known from only three occurrences in the vicinity of Conejo Mountain between Camarillo
Camarillo, California
Camarillo is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 65,201 at the 2010 census, up from 57,084 at the 2000 census. The Ventura Freeway Camarillo is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 65,201 at the 2010 census, up from 57,084 at...
and Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak....
. It probably occurs in a few additional locations nearby which have not yet been officially vouchered.
Description
This is a fleshy perennial plant growing from a branching caudexCaudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
several centimeters long. The leaves appear in a basal rosette about the caudex, each oblong to lance-shaped and generally pointed. The leaves are waxy in texture, pale grayish or pinkish green in color, and up to 5 centimeters long. The erect 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 composed of a bract
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...
-lined peduncle
Peduncle (botany)
In botany, a peduncle is a stem supporting an inflorescence, or after fecundation, an infructescence.The peduncle is a stem, usually green and without leaves, though sometimes colored or supporting small leaves...
up to 15 centimeters tall which splits into terminal branches each bearing several flowers. The flower has a base of fleshy, triangular 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 longer, bright yellow petals just over a centimeter long.
Ecology
This dudleya associates with mossMoss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
es and lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s. It often grows in layers of the lichen Niebla ceruchoides, which may provide a moisture-capturing bed for seeds that fall from it. This dudleya hybridizes with other species, such as Blochman's liveforever
Dudleya blochmaniae
Dudleya blochmaniae is a succulent plant known by the common name Blochman's liveforever or Blochman's dudleya. This plant is native to California and Baja California, where it grows along the coastline.-Description:...
(Dudleya blochmaniae).
This species is only found on one edge of the Santa Monica Mountains
Santa Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains are a Transverse Range in Southern California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the United States.-Geography:...
, where it occurs in coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub is a low scrubland plant community found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of coastal California and northern Baja California. It is characterized by low-growing aromatic, and drought-deciduous shrubs adapted to the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the...
habitat. The dominant plants are California sagebrush
Artemisia californica
Artemisia californica, also known as California sagebrush, of the Asteraceae family, is a shrub that grows in coastal sage scrub, coastal strand, chaparral, and dry foothill communities, from sea level to 800 m...
(Artemisia californica), California buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
Eriogonum fasciculatum is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common names California buckwheat and Eastern Mojave buckwheat. This common shrub is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where it grows on scrubby slopes and in chaparral and dry washes in a number of...
(Eriogonum fasciculatum) and purple sage
Salvia leucophylla
Salvia leucophylla is an aromatic sage native to the southern coastal mountain ranges of California and Baja California.-Taxonomy:The plant's specific epithet, leucophylla, describes the light grayish leaves...
(Salvia leucophylla). At least two occurrences are within the campus bounds of California State University, Channel Islands
California State University, Channel Islands
California State University Channel Islands is a four-year public university located in Camarillo, California, in Ventura County. CSUCI opened in 2002 as the 23rd campus in the California State University system, succeeding the Ventura County branch campus of CSU Northridge...
.