Chorizanthe biloba
An endemic Polygonaceae plant of California's Central Coast Ranges with two uncommon varieties: one erect to 40 cm with spiny-bracted inflorescences and deeply notched tepals, and another known from about five occurrences with more shallow notches.
Common Names
Twolobe Spineflower, San Benito Spineflower
Summary
Twolobe spineflower is an annual herb in the Polygonaceae native to California's Central Coast Ranges, growing erect up to 40 cm tall and featuring an inflorescence of several flowers, each surrounded by six bracts tipped in hooked spines with tepals deeply notched, and it has two subspecies: var. biloba and var. immemora.
As an annual endemic, it occupies diverse habitats including forest, sand, grassland, rocky, brush, desert, riparian, and disturbed areas, and blooms from the second week of April through the first week of September.
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
16 inches
Soil Type
Sand
Bloom Time
Spring
Leaf Lifecycle
Other
Growth Rate
Annual
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Fall
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Goodman
- Publication
- Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 21: 73 (1934)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Caryophyllales
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Genus
- Chorizanthe
Synonyms
Chorizanthe palmeri var. biloba Chorizanthe biloba var. biloba