California Wildflowers

All pictures taken by Steve during California hikes.

 Other   May 6, 2022

California Wildflowers

Sticky Monkey

 

Bush Monkey Flower (Diplacus aurantiacus)

The bush monkey-flower or sticky monkey-flower is a flowering perennial plant that grows in a subshrub form, native to southwestern North America from southwestern Oregon south through most of California and into Baja, Mexico. It grows up to 1.2 meters tall, has deep green sticky leaves 3 to 7 centimeters long and up to a centimeter broad and flowering stems that grow vertically. The flowers are tubular at the base and about 2 centimeters long with five broad lobes; they occur in a variety of shades from white to red, the most common color being a light orange. They are pollinated by bees and hummingbirds. The stigmas are notably sensitive and will close after being touched.

This genus has been subject to taxonomic debate. It is currently included in the Lopseed family but was previously in the Scrophularia. Some authorities prefer to list the genus as Diplacus. Within this species there are six recognized varieties that differ in flower size, color and other features.

 

https://calscape.org/Diplacus-aurantiacus-()

 

Linanthus

Fringed Linanthus (Linanthus dianthiflorus) 

Linanthus dianthiflorus is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common names fringed linanthus and ground pink. It is endemic to southern California, where it can be found in many types of local open habitat, such as chaparral and coastal sage scrub. This is an annual herb producing a very thin, hairy stem no more than about 12 centimeters long. The leaves are linear to threadlike and unlobed, reaching up to 2 centimeters long. The flower cluster bears several leaves and one or more flowers with hairy leaflike sepals. Each flower has pale pink lobes with fringed or toothed tips and purple spots at the bases. The throat of the flower has yellow and white coloration.

https://calscape.org/Linanthus-dianthiflorus-(Fringed-Linanthus) 

Sugar Bush

Bud