Gilia tenuiflora
Encyclopedia
Gilia tenuiflora is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family
known by the common name greater yellowthroat gilia. It is endemic to California
, where its distribution spans the central coast and coastal mountains, as well as the Channel Islands
.
There are several subspecies, including G. c. ssp. arenaria, the sand gilia or Monterey gilia, which is federally listed as an endangered species
. It is known from about 24 occurrences around Monterey Bay
. Hoffmann's slender-flowered gilia, ssp. hoffmannii, is also federally endangered and is limited to Santa Rosa Island
, one of the Channel Islands of California
.
protruding from the throat. Despite the flower's common name, the throat is generally not yellow in color, but purple to white.
Polemoniaceae
Polemoniaceae are a family of about 25 genera with 270-400 species of annual and perennial plants, native to the Northern Hemisphere and South America, with the center of diversity in western North America, especially in California.Only one genus is found in Europe, and two in Asia, where they...
known by the common name greater yellowthroat gilia. It is endemic to California
California
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 its distribution spans the central coast and coastal mountains, as well as the Channel Islands
Channel Islands of California
The Channel Islands of California are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America...
.
There are several subspecies, including G. c. ssp. arenaria, the sand gilia or Monterey gilia, which is federally listed as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
. It is known from about 24 occurrences around Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean, along the central coast of California. The bay is south of San Francisco and San Jose, between the cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey....
. Hoffmann's slender-flowered gilia, ssp. hoffmannii, is also federally endangered and is limited to Santa Rosa Island
Santa Rosa Island
There are at least two islands named Santa Rosa Island:*Santa Rosa Island, California, one of the Channel Islands*Santa Rosa Island, Florida**Battle of Santa Rosa Island, a battle of the American Civil War...
, one of the Channel Islands of California
Channel Islands of California
The Channel Islands of California are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America...
.
Description
The multibranched stem emerges from a basal rosette of leaves, each leaf divided into long, straight leaflets. The flower is lavender with a long stigmaGynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
protruding from the throat. Despite the flower's common name, the throat is generally not yellow in color, but purple to white.