The flowers are subtended by spiny bracts, and have 6 fringed lobes which are white to rose or red.  The calyx is 6-ribbed and finely ridged with 6 teeth, 3 long and 3 short. There are 9 stamens and no petals. Hairy glandular stems. San Mateo Cyn. Wilderness, Riverside Co., CA. 7-4-11. © Joan Avise.

Fringed Spineflower

Chorizanthe fimbriata var. fimbriata

A common generally erect, up to 12 in. hairy annual, found on dry rocky or sandy slopes in chaparral in the Santa Ana Mountains (Roberts).  Leaves are in a basal rosette with upper branches leafless, but having small spiny bractlets.  The Chorizanthe have a one-chambered superior ovary producing a single seed which does not separate from the flower but falls from the plant intact to be dispersed by wind or animals (Clarke).

Polygonaceae; Subfamily Eriogonoideae

Back to Polygonaceae of Orange County, California
Back to Eudicots of Orange County, California
Back to Natural History of Orange County, California

Stems fork in repeated pairs. San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 7-11-10. © Joan Avise.
Basal rosette of leaves, upper stems bare. San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 7-11-10. © Joan Avise.

San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 7-11-10. © Joan Avise.
San Mateo Cyn. Wilderness, Riverside Co., CA. 7-4-11. © Joan Avise.

San Mateo Cyn. Wilderness, Riverside Co., CA. 7-4-11. © Joan Avise.
San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 7-11-10. © Joan Avise.

Found on dry sandy slopes. San Mateo Cyn. Wilderness, Riverside Co., CA. 7-4-11. © Joan Avise.