Ivesia argyrocoma
Encyclopedia
Ivesia argyrocoma is a species of flowering plant in the rose family
known by the common name silverhair mousetail. It is native to the San Bernardino Mountains
of southwestern San Bernardino County, California
. A population is also known from Baja California
in Mexico; this population may or may not be distinct and further study is needed. This is a small perennial herb producing a clump of fuzzy reddish naked stems that grow horizontal to the ground and a number of tail-like hairy leaves which grow erect and may curl or droop. The stems are 10 to 20 centimeters long. Each leaf is a nearly cylindrical strip of tightly overlapping leaflets arranged around a central rachis up to 8 centimeters long. The leaflets are green and covered in a dense coat of shiny silver hairs. Most of the leaves emerge from the base of the stem; a few very small ones may emerge farther up the stem. At the tip of the stem is an inflorescence
of one or more clusters of glandular flowers. Each flower has generally five green and red, densely silver-haired, triangular sepal
s and five smaller oval or spoon-shaped white petals. The center of the flower contains twenty yellow-anthered white stamen
s and several pistils
. The fruit is a tiny smooth brown achene.
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 silverhair mousetail. It is native to the San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range north and east of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States. The mountains run for approximately 60 miles east-west on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in southwestern San Bernardino County, north of the...
of southwestern San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
. A population is also known from Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
in Mexico; this population may or may not be distinct and further study is needed. This is a small perennial herb producing a clump of fuzzy reddish naked stems that grow horizontal to the ground and a number of tail-like hairy leaves which grow erect and may curl or droop. The stems are 10 to 20 centimeters long. Each leaf is a nearly cylindrical strip of tightly overlapping leaflets arranged around a central rachis up to 8 centimeters long. The leaflets are green and covered in a dense coat of shiny silver hairs. Most of the leaves emerge from the base of the stem; a few very small ones may emerge farther up the stem. At the tip of the stem is an 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...
of one or more clusters of glandular flowers. Each flower has generally five green and red, densely silver-haired, triangular 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 smaller oval or spoon-shaped white petals. The center of the flower contains twenty yellow-anthered white stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s and several 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...
. The fruit is a tiny smooth brown achene.