/San%20Joaquin%20Wildlife%20Sanctuary,%20Irvine,%20CA.%207-04-09%20007.jpg) The 5/16 in. white flowers are in large terminal compound panicles; San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 7-04-09. © Joan Avise |
Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia A common large evergreen shrub or small tree, up to 30 ft. tall, in chaparral on moist north-facing slopes or canyon bottoms; Chino Hills, eastern foothills, Santa Ana Mountains, and Upper Newport Bay (Roberts). Flowering June-July. Native Americans sometimes ate the somewhat bitter toasted or boiled berries. Hollywood, California is named after this plant which is also common in that area. In the 1920s, collecting toyon branches for Christmas became so popular in Los Angeles that the State of California passed a law forbidding collecting on public land. (Wikipedia). Rosaceae Back to Rosaceae of Orange County, California |
/San%20Joaquin%20Wildlife%20Sanctuary,%20Irvine,%20CA.%207-04-09%20004.jpg) San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 7-04-09. © Joan Avise |
/early%20blooms%20San%20Joaquin%20Wildlife%20Sanctuary,%20Irvine,%20CA.%207-04-09%20001.jpg) Early blooms. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 7-04-09. © Joan Avise |
/Aliso+Wood%20Cyns.%20Wilderness%20Park,%20Laguna%20Niguel,%20CA.7-24-10%20014.jpg) Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Laguna Niguel, CA. 7-24-10. © Joan Avise |
/bordering%20UCI%20Ecological%20Preserve,%20Irvine,%20CA.%207-09-09%20012.jpg) 5-cleft calyx, 5 petals, 10 stamens in pairs; 2-3 pistils. Bordering UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 7-09-09. © Joan Avise |
/more%20Toyon/Crystal%20Cove%20State%20Park,%20Laguna%20Beach,%20CA.%2012-3-11%20055%20.jpg) Fruit is a red, berry-like pome derived from an inferior compound ovary that remains closed at maturity and is embedded in an edible fleshy receptacle (as in apples and pears). If you chew them for long enough they taste like almonds. Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 12-3-11. © Joan Avise |
/with%20House%20Finch%20male,%20San%20Joaquin%20Wildlife%20Sanctuary,%20Irvine,%20CA.%20%201-13-08%20184.jpg) Matures in fall and persists into winter (hence known also as Christmas-berry), providind food for some chaparral birds, coyotes and bears who help disperse the seeds. With House Finch male, San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 1-13-08. © Joan Avise |
/more%20Toyon/Crystal%20Cove%20State%20Park,%20Laguna%20Beach,%20CA.%2012-3-11%20057.jpg) Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 12-3-11. © Joan Avise |
/aging%20fruit%20%20Upper%20Newport%20Bay,%20Laguna%20Beach,%20CA.%2010-07-11%20029.jpg) Leaves 4-5 in. long, sharply toothed, leathery, dark green above, lighter below. Aging fruit. Upper Newport Bay, Laguna Beach, CA. 10-07-11. © Joan Avise |