Horkelia marinensis
Encyclopedia
Horkelia marinensis is a rare species of flowering plant in the rose family
known by the common name Point Reyes horkelia. It is endemic to the California
coastline, where it is known from about Fort Bragg
to near Santa Cruz
. It grows on beaches and in other sandy coastal areas. This is a perennial herb growing in low, dense patches. The leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and are made up of toothed, hairy, gray-green leaflets each around a centimeter long. The foliage is glandular and strongly scented. The plant produces green to reddish-green stems up to 30 centimeters long which bear inflorescence
s of dense clustered flowers. Each flower has minute bract
lets under reddish-green, fuzzy sepal
s. The petals are generally white and narrow with rounded ends. The center of the flower contains a ring of stamen
s around a patch of 20 to 30 pistils
.
Rosaceae
Rosaceae are a medium-sized family of flowering plants, including about 2830 species in 95 genera. The name is derived from the type genus Rosa. Among the largest genera are Alchemilla , Sorbus , Crataegus , Cotoneaster , and Rubus...
known by the common name Point Reyes horkelia. It is endemic to the 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...
coastline, where it is known from about Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg, California
Fort Bragg is a city located in coastal Mendocino County, California along State Route 1, the major north-south highway along the Pacific Coast. Fort Bragg is located west of Willits, at an elevation of 85 feet...
to near Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
. It grows on beaches and in other sandy coastal areas. This is a perennial herb growing in low, dense patches. The leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and are made up of toothed, hairy, gray-green leaflets each around a centimeter long. The foliage is glandular and strongly scented. The plant produces green to reddish-green stems up to 30 centimeters long which bear 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...
s of dense clustered flowers. Each flower has minute bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
lets under reddish-green, fuzzy sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s. The petals are generally white and narrow with rounded ends. The center of the flower contains a ring of stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s around a patch of 20 to 30 pistils
Gynoecium
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...
.