Ceanothus jepsonii
Encyclopedia
Ceanothus jepsonii is a species of shrub
in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae
known by the common names musk brush and Jepson ceanothus.
Both varieties have firm, toothed evergreen leaves oppositely arranged, curved, and with their edges turned under. The flowers tend to have a musk
y odor.
, where it grows in dry, shrubby habitat in the San Francisco Bay Area
and the Coast Ranges to the north, often on serpentine soil
s.
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae
Rhamnaceae
Rhamnaceae, the Buckthorn family, is a large family of flowering plants, mostly trees, shrubs and some vines.The family contains 50-60 genera and approximately 870-900 species. The Rhamnaceae have a worldwide distribution, but are more common in the subtropical and tropical regions...
known by the common names musk brush and Jepson ceanothus.
Description
This species of shrub is variable, particularly across its two varieties:- Ceanothus jepsonii var. jepsonii is a spreading plant growing up to about half a meter tall. It bears inflorescenceInflorescenceAn 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...
s of blue or purple flowers and spherical fruits. - Ceanothus jepsonii var. albiflorus is a white-flowered variety approaching a meter in maximum height. Its fruits are more oblong.
Both varieties have firm, toothed evergreen leaves oppositely arranged, curved, and with their edges turned under. The flowers tend to have a musk
Musk
Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. They include glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial substances with similar odors. Musk was a name originally given to a substance with a...
y odor.
Distribution
It is endemic to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it grows in dry, shrubby habitat in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and the Coast Ranges to the north, often on serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
s.