Flannelbush
Encyclopedia
Fremontodendron is a genus
of two species of shrub
s from the southwestern United States
and northwest Mexico
. They are treated within the Sterculiaceae
by the most of the authors, in the tribe Fremontodendreae together with the genus Chiranthodendron
, but also included in the family Malvaceae
(fide APG). Both the genus, and its synonym were named in dedication to John C. Frémont
.
The leaves
have a leathery and fuzzy texture reminiscent of flannel
(thus the name), and the yellow and orange flower
s are large and showy. The hairs of the leaves and young shoots can cause skin irritation.
There are two species: the California Flannelbush
F. californicum, and the Mexican Flannelbush F. mexicanum, and a number of populations of uncertain status. In addition, a number of hybrid cultivar
s have been produced, including 'California Glory', 'Ken Taylor', and 'Pacific Sunset'.
The Pine Hill Flannelbush
F. californicum ssp. decumbens is a rare variety known only from the Pine Hill Preserve in El Dorado County, California
, though populations in Nevada County
and Yuba County
are very similar and best treated in this subspecies. The Napa Flannelbush
F. californicum ssp. napense occurs in Napa
and adjacent counties, and Thickleaf California Flannelbush
F. californicum subsp. crassifolia occurs in Santa Cruz County
.
and England
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of two species of shrub
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...
s from the southwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and northwest Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. They are treated within the Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae is a botanical name for a group of flowering plants at the rank of family, which is now considered obsolete. As is true for any botanical name, the circumscription, status and placement of the taxon has varied with taxonomic point of view...
by the most of the authors, in the tribe Fremontodendreae together with the genus Chiranthodendron
Chiranthodendron
Chiranthodendron is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae, comprising a single species of tree, Chiranthodendron pentadactylon, is called the Devil's hand tree, monkey's hand tree, or Mexican hand tree, or some variant thereof - for the distinct shape of its flowers, which resemble an...
, but also included in the family Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao...
(fide APG). Both the genus, and its synonym were named in dedication to John C. Frémont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
.
The leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
have a leathery and fuzzy texture reminiscent of flannel
Flannel
Flannel is a soft woven fabric, of various fineness. Flannel was originally made from carded wool or worsted yarn, but is now often made from either wool, cotton, or synthetic fibre. Flannel may be brushed to create extra softness or remain unbrushed. The brushing process is a mechanical process...
(thus the name), and the yellow and orange flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are large and showy. The hairs of the leaves and young shoots can cause skin irritation.
There are two species: the California Flannelbush
California Flannelbush
Fremontodendron californicum, the California flannelbush, with syn. Fremontia californica Torr.) is a flowering evergreen minor hardwood tree/shrub, with fuzzy, flannel-like leaves and colorful blossoms. It bears the alternate common names California fremontia and flannel flower...
F. californicum, and the Mexican Flannelbush F. mexicanum, and a number of populations of uncertain status. In addition, a number of hybrid cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s have been produced, including 'California Glory', 'Ken Taylor', and 'Pacific Sunset'.
The Pine Hill Flannelbush
California Flannelbush
Fremontodendron californicum, the California flannelbush, with syn. Fremontia californica Torr.) is a flowering evergreen minor hardwood tree/shrub, with fuzzy, flannel-like leaves and colorful blossoms. It bears the alternate common names California fremontia and flannel flower...
F. californicum ssp. decumbens is a rare variety known only from the Pine Hill Preserve in El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County is a county located in the historic Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and foothills of the U.S. state of California. The 2010 population was 181,058. The El Dorado county seat is in Placerville....
, though populations in Nevada County
Nevada County, California
Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
and Yuba County
Yuba County, California
Yuba County is a county located in the U.S. state of California's Central Valley, north of Sacramento, along the Feather River. As of the 2010 census, its population was 72,155. The county seat is Marysville. Yuba County is part of the Greater Sacramento area.-History:Yuba County was one of the...
are very similar and best treated in this subspecies. The Napa Flannelbush
California Flannelbush
Fremontodendron californicum, the California flannelbush, with syn. Fremontia californica Torr.) is a flowering evergreen minor hardwood tree/shrub, with fuzzy, flannel-like leaves and colorful blossoms. It bears the alternate common names California fremontia and flannel flower...
F. californicum ssp. napense occurs in Napa
Napa County, California
Napa County is a county located north of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is coterminous with the Napa, California, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 the population is 136,484. The county seat is Napa....
and adjacent counties, and Thickleaf California Flannelbush
California Flannelbush
Fremontodendron californicum, the California flannelbush, with syn. Fremontia californica Torr.) is a flowering evergreen minor hardwood tree/shrub, with fuzzy, flannel-like leaves and colorful blossoms. It bears the alternate common names California fremontia and flannel flower...
F. californicum subsp. crassifolia occurs in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
.
Cultivation
The two species and many cultivars are used in water conserving gardens in 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...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...