Helianthemum greenei
Encyclopedia
Helianthemum greenei is a rare species of flowering plant in the rock-rose family
known by the common name island rush-rose. It is endemic to the Channel Islands of California
, where it grows in the chaparral
of the rocky seaside slopes. It is present on three of the eight islands, where it has historically been threatened by feral herbivores such as the Santa Cruz sheep
and is making a gradual recovery. It is a federally listed threatened species.
This wildflower is an erect perennial herb reaching a maximum height near 30 centimeters. Its leafy stem is mostly green, with new growth and inflorescence
s at the top often appearing purple in color. The leaves are narrow, linear, and pointed, up to three centimeters long. The inflorescence is generally a panicle, producing many buds which open into golden yellow flowers one to two centimeters wide. Each rock-rose flower has five rounded petals over five smaller, fuzzy-haired sepal
s. The fruit is an oval-shaped capsule half a centimeter wide.
Today this plant is found on Santa Cruz
, Santa Catalina
, and Santa Rosa Island
s; it has not been recorded on San Miguel Island
in several decades.
Cistaceae
The Cistaceae is a small family of plants known for its beautiful shrubs, which are profusely covered by flowers at the time of blossom...
known by the common name island rush-rose. It is endemic to the Channel Islands of California
Channel Islands of California
The Channel Islands of California are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America...
, where it grows in the 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...
of the rocky seaside slopes. It is present on three of the eight islands, where it has historically been threatened by feral herbivores such as the Santa Cruz sheep
Santa Cruz sheep
Santa Cruz sheep are an extremely rare breed of domestic sheep that once existed as a feral population on the Santa Cruz Island of the Channel Islands of California. Small and hardy, the sheep were all killed or removed from the island to prevent destruction of natural habitats. Today, they number...
and is making a gradual recovery. It is a federally listed threatened species.
This wildflower is an erect perennial herb reaching a maximum height near 30 centimeters. Its leafy stem is mostly green, with new growth and 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...
s at the top often appearing purple in color. The leaves are narrow, linear, and pointed, up to three centimeters long. The inflorescence is generally a panicle, producing many buds which open into golden yellow flowers one to two centimeters wide. Each rock-rose flower has five rounded petals over five smaller, fuzzy-haired 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. The fruit is an oval-shaped capsule half a centimeter wide.
Today this plant is found on Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz Island was the largest privately owned island off the continental United States, but is currently part-owned by the National Park service . The island, located off the coast of California, is long and from wide...
, Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, or Catalina Island, may refer to:*Santa Catalina Island, California*Catalina Island, Dominican Republic*Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, one of the departments of Colombia, consisting of two island groups*Owariki or Owa Riki , an island in the...
, and Santa Rosa Island
Santa Rosa Island
There are at least two islands named Santa Rosa Island:*Santa Rosa Island, California, one of the Channel Islands*Santa Rosa Island, Florida**Battle of Santa Rosa Island, a battle of the American Civil War...
s; it has not been recorded on San Miguel Island
San Miguel Island
San Miguel Island is the westernmost of California's Channel Islands, located across the Santa Barbara Channel in the Pacific Ocean, within Santa Barbara County, California. San Miguel is the sixth-largest of the eight Channel Islands at , including offshore islands and rocks. Prince Island, off...
in several decades.