Malacothamnus densiflorus
Encyclopedia
Malacothamnus densiflorus is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family
known by the common name yellowstem bushmallow.
of southern California
and northern Baja California
, where it is a member of the chaparral
plant community.
with a slender, multibranched stem approaching two meters in maximum height. It is coated in thin to dense yellowish or tan hairs. The thick to leathery leaves are oval in shape, a few centimeters long, and sometimes divided into lobes. The inflorescence
is a spikelike cluster of many pale pink flowers with oval or somewhat triangular petals each up to a centimeter long.
Malvaceae
Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao...
known by the common name yellowstem bushmallow.
Endemic range
Malacothamnus densiflorus is native to the Peninsular RangesPeninsular Ranges
The Peninsular Ranges are a group of mountain ranges, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, which stretch from southern California in the United States to the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula; they are part of the North American Coast Ranges that run along the Pacific coast from Alaska...
of southern 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...
and northern Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, where it is a member of 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...
plant community.
Description
Malacothamnus densiflorus is a shrubShrub
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...
with a slender, multibranched stem approaching two meters in maximum height. It is coated in thin to dense yellowish or tan hairs. The thick to leathery leaves are oval in shape, a few centimeters long, and sometimes divided into lobes. 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 a spikelike cluster of many pale pink flowers with oval or somewhat triangular petals each up to a centimeter long.