Ancistrocarphus keilii
Encyclopedia
Ancistrocarphus keilii is a rare species of flowering plant known by the common name Santa Ynez groundstar. It is endemic to Santa Barbara County, California
, where it is known only from three populations in the Santa Ynez River
drainage. There are perhaps 180 individuals left in existence. The plant was described to science in 2004. It grows in sandy soils in chaparral
habitat adjacent to oak woodlands. The plant is considered to be vulnerable to extinction because it is rare, its populations are located in habitat that is likely to be disturbed or developed, and because it apparently has no effective method of biological dispersal
.
This is a petite and easily overlooked annual herb. There is no stem, just a small rosette of spoon-shaped leaves no more than 1 or 2 centimeters long. The leaf blades are borne on petioles
with thin, expanded bases that surround the inflorescence
. There is one flower head
2 or 3 millimeters long which is hidden amidst the leaf bases. The tiny achene
generally germinates
directly next to its parent, so that the plants become a carpetlike layer.
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
, where it is known only from three populations in the Santa Ynez River
Santa Ynez River
The Santa Ynez River is one of the largest rivers on the Central Coast of California. It is long, flowing from east to west through the Santa Ynez Valley, reaching the Pacific Ocean at Surf, near Vandenberg Air Force Base and the city of Lompoc....
drainage. There are perhaps 180 individuals left in existence. The plant was described to science in 2004. It grows in sandy soils in chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
habitat adjacent to oak woodlands. The plant is considered to be vulnerable to extinction because it is rare, its populations are located in habitat that is likely to be disturbed or developed, and because it apparently has no effective method of biological dispersal
Biological dispersal
Biological dispersal refers to species movement away from an existing population or away from the parent organism. Through simply moving from one habitat patch to another, the dispersal of an individual has consequences not only for individual fitness, but also for population dynamics, population...
.
This is a petite and easily overlooked annual herb. There is no stem, just a small rosette of spoon-shaped leaves no more than 1 or 2 centimeters long. The leaf blades are borne on petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
with thin, expanded bases that surround the inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
. There is one flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
2 or 3 millimeters long which is hidden amidst the leaf bases. The tiny achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
generally germinates
Germination
Germination is the process in which a plant or fungus emerges from a seed or spore, respectively, and begins growth. The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm. However the growth of a sporeling from a spore, for example the...
directly next to its parent, so that the plants become a carpetlike layer.