Gambelia speciosa, previously classified as Galvezia speciosa,[1][2][3] is commonly known as showy island snapdragon or showy greenbright.

Gambelia speciosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Gambelia
Species:
G. speciosa
Binomial name
Gambelia speciosa
Synonyms[1][2][3]
  • Antirrhinum speciosum (Nutt.) A.Gray
  • Galvezia speciosa (Nutt.) A.Gray
  • Galvezia speciosa var. pubescens Brandegee

It is a perennial plant, which is endemic to California chaparral and woodlands habitats on the Channel Islands in Southern California, and on Guadalupe Island west of the Baja California Peninsula in Baja California, Mexico.[2][3]

It is listed as an endangered species on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California.[3]

The genus name of Gambelia is in honour of William Gambel (1823–1849), an American naturalist, ornithologist, and botanist.[4] The Latin epithet of speciosa is derived from speciosus meaning showy.[5] It was first described and published in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia Vol.4 (Mar.-Apr.) on page 7 in 1848.[6]

Cultivation

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Gambelia speciosa is cultivated as an ornamental plant for native plant, drought tolerant, and wildlife gardens. It generally prefers a sunny site and well-drained soil, with minimal summer water.[7] The flowers attract hummingbirds.

References

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  1. ^ a b USDA:: Gambelia speciosa . accessed 4.11.2015
  2. ^ a b c Jepson: Gambelia speciosa . accessed 4.11.2015
  3. ^ a b c d Calflora: Gambelia speciosa . accessed 4.11.2015
  4. ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names, Volume II, D–L. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-2676-9.
  5. ^ Coombes, Allen (2012). The A to Z of Plant Names: A Quick Reference Guide to 4000 Garden Plants. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 50. ISBN 9781604691962.
  6. ^ "Gambelia speciosa Nutt. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  7. ^ Western Garden Book. Menlo Park, California: Sunset Publishing Corporation. January 2007. p. 362. ISBN 978-0-376-03916-3.
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