Horkelia cuneata
Encyclopedia
Horkelia cuneata is a species of flowering plant in the rose family
known by the common name wedgeleaf horkelia. It is endemic to California
, where it grows in coastal chaparral
communities and sandy areas. This is a matting or clumping perennial herb producing erect green or red stems up to 70 centimeters tall. The fernlike green leaves are up to 30 centimeters long and are made up of toothed, oval-shaped leaflets each one or two centimeters long. The foliage and stems are often quite hairy. The inflorescence
holds several flowers, each with narrow, pointed bract
lets and wider, reflexed sepal
s. The sepals and five white petals may be tinted with bright pink. The center of the flower holds ten stamen
s and up to 60 small pistils
.
Rosaceae
Rosaceae are a medium-sized family of flowering plants, including about 2830 species in 95 genera. The name is derived from the type genus Rosa. Among the largest genera are Alchemilla , Sorbus , Crataegus , Cotoneaster , and Rubus...
known by the common name wedgeleaf horkelia. 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 grows in coastal 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...
communities and sandy areas. This is a matting or clumping perennial herb producing erect green or red stems up to 70 centimeters tall. The fernlike green leaves are up to 30 centimeters long and are made up of toothed, oval-shaped leaflets each one or two centimeters long. The foliage and stems are often quite hairy. 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...
holds several flowers, each with narrow, pointed 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...
lets and wider, reflexed 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 sepals and five white petals may be tinted with bright pink. The center of the flower holds ten stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s and up to 60 small pistils
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
.