Ivesia muirii
Encyclopedia
Ivesia muirii is a species of flowering plant in the rose family
known by the common name granite mousetail. It is endemic to the High Sierra Nevada of California
, where it grows on rocky slopes and cliffs.
This is a small perennial herb growing in tufts of erect leaves and stems. The leaf is 2 to 5 centimeters long and is made up of many densely hairy overlapping leaflets such that the leaf is a cylindrical, pointed, whitish to silvery body. The mostly naked stem is up to 15 centimeters long and holds an inflorescence
of clustered flowers. Each flower is about half a centimeter wide, with triangular sepal
s covered in long, white hairs. Between the sepals are narrow, pointed petals of bright yellow. In the center of the flower are a few stamen
s and pistils
. The fruit is an achene
about two millimeters long which is gray with reddish spots.
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 granite mousetail. It is endemic to the High Sierra Nevada 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 grows on rocky slopes and cliffs.
This is a small perennial herb growing in tufts of erect leaves and stems. The leaf is 2 to 5 centimeters long and is made up of many densely hairy overlapping leaflets such that the leaf is a cylindrical, pointed, whitish to silvery body. The mostly naked stem is up to 15 centimeters long and holds an 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...
of clustered flowers. Each flower is about half a centimeter wide, with 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 covered in long, white hairs. Between the sepals are narrow, pointed petals of bright yellow. In the center of the flower are a few stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s and 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...
. The fruit is an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
about two millimeters long which is gray with reddish spots.