Baccharis malibuensis

Baccharis malibuensis is a rare California species of shrubs in the aster family known by the common name Malibu baccharis.[1]

Baccharis malibuensis

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Baccharis
Species:
B. malibuensis
Binomial name
Baccharis malibuensis
R.M.Beauch. & Henrickson

It is endemic to southern California. It was first recognized as a distinct taxon in the Malibu Creek drainage in the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu. Other populations have since been located in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties.[1][2] It grows in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and oak woodlands. Most of the occurrences contain fewer than 200 individual plants.[2] The species was described to science only in 1995.[3]

This is a shrub generally growing 40-100 centimeters (16-40 inches) in height, and known to exceed 2 meters (80 inches) at times. The erect stems have a woody base and are mostly hairless, but may be sparsely hairy near the ends of the branches. The narrow, widely spaced leaves are linear or lance-shaped and smooth-edged or slightly serrated, and measure 1.5 to 6.5 centimeters in length but only a few millimeters in width. They are glandular and hairless or with few hairs. The inflorescence is an elongated cluster of many flower heads containing twenty to thirty or more male or female flowers. The fruit is a hairy achene tipped with a plumelike white pappus about 7 millimeters long.[4]

Threats to this species include off-road vehicles and urban development.[2]

References
  1. Calflora taxon report, University of California, Baccharis malibuensis Beauchamp & Henrickson Malibu baccharis
  2. The Nature Conservancy
  3. Beauchamp, R. M. and J. Henrickson. (1995). Baccharis malibuensis (Asteraceae): A new species from the Santa Monica Mountains, California. Aliso 14 197-203.
  4. Flora of North America, Malibu baccharis or coyote brush, Baccharis malibuensis R. M. Beauchamp & Henrickson
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