- Emmenanthe
Taxobox
name = "Emmenanthe"
image_width = 290px
image_caption =
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Boraginales
familia =Hydrophyllaceae
genus = "Emmenanthe"
species = "E. penduliflora"
binomial = "Emmenanthe penduliflora"
binomial_authority = Benth."Emmenanthe" is a monotypic genus which contains only one species, "Emmenanthe penduliflora", known by the common name whispering bells. This is a grassland wildflower found in the western United States. It is an annual plant with fleshy foliage which exudes a sticky juice with a light medicinal odor. The plant comes up from a weedy-looking basal rosette of sharply lobed leaves. It produces long inflorescences hung with small yellow or pink bell-shaped flowers which dry and become light and papery. The dry hanging flowers make a rustling sound when a breeze comes through, giving the whispering bells its common name. The dry flower also contains a fruit about a centimeter wide. This flower is most common in dry, recently burned areas; germination of the seeds may be triggered by the presence of burned plant material. It is a common plant of the
chaparral ecosystem, which is prone to wildfire.External links
* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?4518,4521,4522 Jepson Manual Treatment]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=EMPE USDA Plants Profile]
* [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Emmenanthe+penduliflora Photo gallery]
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