''Chorizanthe aphanantha'' is a critically endangered
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
of flowering plant in the family
Polygonaceae
The Polygonaceae are a Family (biology), family of flowering plants known Common name, informally as the knotweed family or smartweed—buckwheat family in the United States. The Botanical name, name is Basionym, based on the genus ''Polygonum'', ...
with the common name Irish Hills Spineflower. It is endemic to the Irish Hills in San Luis Obispo County California.
Description
''Chorizanthe aphanantha'' is a low-growing tufted or mat-forming plant up to 26 cm in diameter. Stems branch from the base and are usually prostrate, each bearing a spoon-shaped leaf that is 4-8 mm long and 0.6-5 mm wide and glabrous or covered with tiny hairs. Tiny white flowers are born on short thick hairy basal stems, but are most often apparent from the spiny red and green involucre (floral bract) and fruiting structure that persists after the white petals drop.
Range and habitat
''Chorizanthe aphanantha'' grows in chaparral, usually on serpentine soils in the Irish Hills in San Luis Obispo County California.
References
aphanantha
{{Polygonaceae-stub