Ericameria gilmanii
Encyclopedia
Ericameria gilmanii is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common names Gilman's ericameria, Gilman's goldenbush, Gilman goldenweed, and whiteflower goldenbush. It is endemic to California
, where it occurs east of the Sierra Nevada. It is a poorly known plant. There are six occurrences, but only one has been observed in the last 20 years.
This plant is a shrub
growing up to 50 centimeters tall. The foliage is aromatic. The leaves are up to 1.2 centimeters long, curved backward, and glandular and resinous. The inflorescence
is generally a single flower head
, or sometimes more than one. The head has a bell-shaped base with curving phyllaries
which are green to tan in color. The head contains a few white ray florets and has white disc florets at the center. The fruit is a hairy achene
which is roughly a centimeter long including its pappus
.
This plant grows in forests. The one known occurrence is on United States Forest Service
land. Other occurrences presumed to still exist are also on federal land.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known by the common names Gilman's ericameria, Gilman's goldenbush, Gilman goldenweed, and whiteflower goldenbush. 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 occurs east of the Sierra Nevada. It is a poorly known plant. There are six occurrences, but only one has been observed in the last 20 years.
This plant is a 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...
growing up to 50 centimeters tall. The foliage is aromatic. The leaves are up to 1.2 centimeters long, curved backward, and glandular and resinous. 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 generally a single flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
, or sometimes more than one. The head has a bell-shaped base with curving 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...
which are green to tan in color. The head contains a few white ray florets and has white disc florets at the center. The fruit is a hairy achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
which is roughly a centimeter long including its 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...
.
This plant grows in forests. The one known occurrence is on United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
land. Other occurrences presumed to still exist are also on federal land.