Cressa truxillensis Kunth   =Cressa truxillensis var. vallicola   Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory Family)   Native   Alkali Weed     Alkali Clover

                                         June Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Low, white-hairy perennial herb, usually much branched from base, forming sprawling tufted plants 3-10 in. high; leaves many, oblong or oval, 1/6 to 1/3 in. long, short petioled; fls. on short stalks in the upper lf. axils, petals white; sepals 5; corolla 5-parted, bell shaped and silky hairy; fruit is a small hairy capsule, usually 1-seeded; styles 2; stigma entire, capitate;  seed less than 1/8 in. long, broadly ovate, somewhat pointed at the scar end, and pinkish-tan in color, with smooth surface.

Habitat:  Especially common in alkali soils, and occurs throughout the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, southward to southern Calif.  Below 1200 m.  May-Oct.

Name:  Greek, Kressa, a Cretan woman.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 375).  Truxillensis probably means from Trujillo, a Spanish place name much used in New Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Puerto Rico, Honduras and Spain.  The type locality given in the original description would indicate, perhaps, which of these places was a source.  Certainly not Spain, as this is a native American species.  Possibly New Mexico, or American tropic countries.  Truxillensis, the x is substituted for the j, which has no counterpoint in Latin.  Also x in Spanish has the sound of the Spanish j, as in Oaxaca.  (John Johnson).

General:  Common in the study area.  Photographed at 23rd Street and along Back Bay Dr. between Big Canyon and Eastbluff Dr. I have noted that in the very dry 1987, this plant was more abundant than in previous years.  In areas where I had planned to look at Spergularia, I found Cressa in 1987.      This is one of the native halophytes listed by Zedler as occurring in the salt marshes of southern Calif. and Baja Calif.  She does not list it as occurring in Upper Newport Bay.  For a complete list of these halophytes see Spartina foliosa.      I have found this plant in the tidal zone and as high as 25 feet above the high tide line.  (my comments).      Alkali Weed, Cressa truxillensis, is easily overlooked in most southern Calif. marshes.  However, its recent increase in abundance at the upper marsh of Los Penasquitos Lagoon and its obvious expansion following disturbance at the Ballona Wetland have stimulated interest in its ecological requirements.  Whether it is an indicator of changing conditions or of upper marsh boundaries remains to be seen; but it may prove useful in delimiting areas which could support salt marsh vegetation, provided disturbance were reduced or eliminated.   (Zedler 30).     A small genus of warm temp. and trop. regions around the world.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 375).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 521; Munz, Calif Flora 458; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 375; Robbins et al. 345; Roberts 20.

Photo Ref:  June 2 83 # 11; April 2 84 # 22; April-May 86 # 21; June-July 93 # 7.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

First Found:  June 1983.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 232.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 6/8/04.  

                            June Photo                                                      May Photo