Pogogyne floribunda
Encyclopedia
Pogogyne floribunda is a species of flowering plant in the mint family
known by the common name profuseflower mesa mint. It is native to the Modoc Plateau
and surrounding basin habitat in the northeastern corner of California
. It is known from six occurrences in adjacent Oregon
and one in Idaho
. It can be found in vernal pool
s, ephemeral creeks, and other summer-dry water bodies on the plateau. This is an aromatic annual herb producing a mostly erect, branching stem which is lined nearly from base to top with inflorescence
. The lipped, tubular flowers are about half a centimeter long and white in color. Most have purple spots or red speckles, while a few are pure white or solid pale purple. Each is surrounded by a calyx of pointed sepal
s which are coated in long white hairs.
This plant, once thought to be a variety of the more common Pogogyne zizyphoroides
, was elevated to species level in 1992.
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
known by the common name profuseflower mesa mint. It is native to the Modoc Plateau
Modoc Plateau
The Modoc Plateau lies in the northeast corner of California as well as parts of Oregon and Nevada. It is a mile-high expanse of lava flows with cinder cones, juniper flats, pine forests, and seasonal lakes. The plateau is thought to have been formed approximately 25 million years ago...
and surrounding basin habitat in the northeastern corner of 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...
. It is known from six occurrences in adjacent Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and one in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. It can be found in vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
s, ephemeral creeks, and other summer-dry water bodies on the plateau. This is an aromatic annual herb producing a mostly erect, branching stem which is lined nearly from base to top with 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...
. The lipped, tubular flowers are about half a centimeter long and white in color. Most have purple spots or red speckles, while a few are pure white or solid pale purple. Each is surrounded by a calyx of pointed 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 which are coated in long white hairs.
This plant, once thought to be a variety of the more common Pogogyne zizyphoroides
Pogogyne zizyphoroides
Pogogyne zizyphoroides is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name Sacramento mesa mint. It is native to central California and Oregon, where it grows in vernal pools and similar habitat...
, was elevated to species level in 1992.