Lepidospartum squamatum is a species of flowering shrub in the daisy family known by the common names California broomsage and scale broom.
| Lepidospartum squamatum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Lepidospartum |
| Species: | L. squamatum
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| Binomial name | |
| Lepidospartum squamatum | |
Distribution
editLepidospartum squamatum is native to the mountains, valleys, and deserts of central and southern California, and Baja California. It grows in sandy, gravelly soils in a number of habitat types, especially dry alluvial habitat such as arroyos.[1] It is considered an indicator species for the alluvial scrub habitat type in this region.[1][2] It is also commonly found in neighboring Arizona.[3]
Description
editLepidospartum squamatum is a large shrub often exceeding two meters in height which takes a spreading, rounded form, its branches are coated in woolly fibers and stubby leaves no more than 3 millimeters long. These drought adaptations support flowering during hot summers when many plants are dormant, making it an important resource for pollinators.[4]
The inflorescence is a single flower head or small cluster of up to 5 heads at the ends of branches. The heads are discoid, bearing many yellow tubular disc florets and no ray florets. The fruit is a narrow achene a few millimeters long with a dull white to light brown pappus on top. While in bloom, scale broom will attract a wide variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, and tarantula hawk wasps.
As the fruits mature and the flower parts fall away the inflorescence takes on a cottony look due to all the pappi.
References
edit- ^ a b Hanes, T.L., et al. (1989). Alluvial scrub vegetation in coastal southern California. US Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-110. Archived 2011-08-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ San Bernardino County Museum: Alluvial Fan Sage Scrub Archived 2008-12-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ USDA Plants Profile
- ^ "Plant of the Month – Scale Broom". Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council – Plant Archives. March 2021. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
External links
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Media related to Lepidospartum squamatum at Wikimedia Commons- Jepson Manual Treatment — Lepidospartum squamatum
- Flora of North America
- Lepidospartum squamatum — Photo gallery
