Systenotheca
Encyclopedia
Systenotheca is a monotypic plant genus in the buckwheat family
containing the single species Systenotheca vortriedei, which is known by the common name Vortriede's spineflower.
growing to a maximum of 15 centimeters in height, and easily identifiable with its red stems and foliage and white flowers.
, where it is native to the Santa Lucia Mountains
of the central coast
. This is an uncommon plant in its small native range where it grows in serpentine soil
at some elevation.
Polygonaceae
Polygonaceae is a family of flowering plants known informally as the "knotweed family" or "smartweed family"— "buckwheat family" in the United States. The name is based on the genus Polygonum and was first used by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789 in his book, Genera Plantarum. The name refers...
containing the single species Systenotheca vortriedei, which is known by the common name Vortriede's spineflower.
Description
This is a small annual plantAnnual plant
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...
growing to a maximum of 15 centimeters in height, and easily identifiable with its red stems and foliage and white flowers.
Distribution
This wildflower is endemic to CaliforniaCalifornia
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 native to the Santa Lucia Mountains
Santa Lucia Mountains
The Santa Lucia Mountains or Santa Lucia Range is a mountain range in coastal California, running from Monterey southeast for 105 miles to San Luis Obispo. The highest summit is Junipero Serra Peak, in Monterey County...
of the central coast
Central Coast of California
The Central Coast is an area of California, United States, roughly spanning the area between the Monterey Bay and Point Conception. It extends through Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, and Santa Barbara County...
. This is an uncommon plant in its small native range where it grows in serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
at some elevation.