Linanthus killipii
Linanthus killipii, known by the common name Baldwin Lake linanthus, is a rare species of flowering plant in the phlox family.[1][2]
Linanthus killipii | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Polemoniaceae |
Genus: | Linanthus |
Species: | L. killipii |
Binomial name | |
Linanthus killipii H.Mason | |
Distribution
The plant is endemic to the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California, where it is known from only a few occurrences in the vicinity of Baldwin Lake, a natural intermittent alkali lake near to the east of Big Bear Lake reservoir.[2] It grows at elevations of 1,700–2,400 metres (5,600–7,900 ft).[1]
The wildflower is a member of the flora in the rare quartz pebble plain habitat type on the north side of the lake, and of open meadows in the adjacent montane chaparral, pinyon-juniper woodland, and red fir forest habitats.[2][3] The diversity of Big Bear Valley Pebble Plains species has been compared to that of coral reefs, and include 17 protected plant species and four rare kinds of butterflies [3] KBHR radio: "Pebble Plain Habitat… Only in Big Bear"
Description
Linanthus killipii is a small annual herb producing a hairy stem from 5–15 centimetres (2.0–5.9 in) tall. The leaves are divided into needle-like linear lobes each up to 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in length.[1]
The inflorescence is an array of a few tiny flowers, each funnel-shaped with white lobes marked with purple at the bases and joined at a yellow throat. The bloom period is May and June.[1]
Conservation
The pebble plain population is within the Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve [3] Other populations are threatened by development and vehicles. It is a listed Endangered species on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants.[4]
References
- Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Linanthus killipii
- Calflora Database: Linanthus killipii
- Calflora.net Blog: "Pebble Plains at Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve" (with photo gallery), by Michael L. Charters, April 2012.
- California Native Plant Society, Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02): Leptosiphon acicularis . accessed 1 April 2016.