Crossosoma californicum

Crossosoma californicum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Crossosomatales
Family:	Crossosomataceae
Genus:	Crossosoma
Species:	C. californicum
Binomial name
Crossosoma californicum Nutt.

Crossosoma californicum is one of only a few species in the flowering plant family Crossosomataceae. It is known by the common name California rockflower and it is native to San Clemente and Santa Catalina Islands, two of the Channel Islands of California, as well as Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California. It is also known from one location on the mainland California coast at Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve on the Palos Verdes Peninsula of Los Angeles County.^[1] This is a shrub or small tree sprawling to a maximum height of five meters. The stem is intricately divided into many thorn-tipped branches lined with veiny, pale green, oval-shaped to rounded leaves up to 9 centimeters long. The inflorescence consists of a single flower with round white petals each one to 1.5 centimeters long. At the center are several rings of stamens.

References

1. ^ Cromley, Janet. Promised Lands. Los Angeles Times December 6, 2005.

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile
• Photo gallery