Horkelia yadonii
Encyclopedia
Horkelia yadonii is a rare species of flowering plant in the rose family
known by the common name Santa Lucia horkelia. It is endemic to California
, where it is known from the Central Coast Ranges from Monterey
to Santa Barbara Counties
. It occupies chaparral
and woodland habitat, often in meadows and dry riverbeds. Easily confused with related species, this plant was not recognized as a species of its own until 1993. This is a perennial herb producing hairy, glandular, gray-green mat of erect leaves around a caudex
. Each leaf is up to 20 centimeters long and is made up of several pairs of wedge-shaped to rounded leaflets with lobed to deeply notched tips. The inflorescence
is an open array of 5 to 10 flowers atop a tall, erect stalk, each flower made up of five pointed, green sepal
s and five white petals
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 Santa Lucia horkelia. 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 it is known from the Central Coast Ranges from Monterey
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
to Santa Barbara Counties
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:...
. It occupies 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...
and woodland habitat, often in meadows and dry riverbeds. Easily confused with related species, this plant was not recognized as a species of its own until 1993. This is a perennial herb producing hairy, glandular, gray-green mat of erect leaves around a caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
. Each leaf is up to 20 centimeters long and is made up of several pairs of wedge-shaped to rounded leaflets with lobed to deeply notched tips. 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...
is an open array of 5 to 10 flowers atop a tall, erect stalk, each flower made up of five pointed, green 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 and five white petals