''Ceanothus crassifolius'' is a species of flowering shrub known by the common name hoaryleaf ceanothus. This ''

Ceanothus ''Ceanothus'' is a genus of about 50–60 species of nitrogen-fixing shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). Common names for members of this genus are buckbrush, California lilac, soap bush, or just ceanothus. ''"Ceanothus"' ...

'' is found throughout the coastal mountain ranges of the southern half of

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

, and its range extends into

Baja California Baja California (; 'Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mex ...

.''Jepson Manual'' (1993) University of California, Berkeley
. accessed 3.23.2013

Distribution

''Ceanothus crassifolius'' typically occurs in coastal and montane California chaparral habitat associations. Common flora associates are Toyon (''Heteromeles arbutifolia'') and

Hollyleaf cherry ''Prunus ilicifolia'' (Common names: hollyleaf cherry, evergreen cherry;Fire Effects Information Service, USDA Forest Service/ref> ''islay'' - Salinan Native American) is native to the chaparral areas of coastal California (from Mendocino County ...

(''Prunus ilicifolia'').C. Michael Hogan (2008) ''Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)'', GlobalTwitcher, ed. N. Stromberg
The mountain range systems it is found in include the Southern California Coast Ranges, the Transverse Ranges, and the Peninsular Ranges.

Description

''Ceanothus crassifolius'' is an erect, spreading shrub which can exceed in height. The branches become long and the younger twigs are fuzzy with white or light brown hairs. The small evergreen leaves have widely spaced teeth along the edges and the undersides are lighter in color and coated with hairs. The inflorescences are borne on short stalks less than three centimeters long and are small and rounded with tiny white flowers. They can be quite dense and can cover branches thickly, or they may be sparse. The flowers are white, though may have a yellowish or pink tint. The fruit is a horned capsule less than a centimeter wide.

References

External links

CalFlora database: ''Ceanothus crassifolius'' (hoaryleaf ceanothus)Jepson Manual Treatment — ''Ceanothus crassifolius''

USDA Plants Profile: ''Ceanothus crassifolius'' (hoaryleaf ceanothus)''Ceanothus crassifolius'' — U.C. Photo gallery
{{Taxonbar, from=Q12054445 crassifolius Flora of California Flora of Baja California Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Taxa named by John Torrey