Plagiobothrys collinus var. californicus    (A. Gray) Higgins =Plagiobothrys californicus var. californicus Boraginaceae (Borage Family) Native   California Popcorn Flower

                                         April Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Light green annual with rather slender spreading or prostrate stems 1-4 dm. long, spreading-hirsute; lvs. often numerous below, oblanceolate or spatulate, 1-4 cm. long, thinly hirsute or appressed canescent, the upper cauline reduced, linear; racemes simple, elongate, leafy-bracted at least in lower half; calyx deeply lobed, 3 mm. long in fr., hirsute and sparingly hispid; corolla 4-7 mm. broad, white with a yellow center; nutlets usually 4, ovoid, 1.5-2 mm. long, the ridges and keels usually prominent, the ridges loosely reticulate or almost parallel, sometimes broken up into a series of tubercles, attached to gynobase by a +/- well developed stipelike ventral projection; scar elevated on a stipe near the ak.-base.

Habitat:  Grassy places below 1500 ft.; V. Grassland, Coastal Sage Scrub; cismontane s. Calif from San Bernardino and Los Angeles cos. to L. Calif.  March-May.

Name:  Greek, plagios, on the side, and bothrys, a pit, referring to the caruncular scar of P. fulvis the first known sp.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 263).  Californicus refers to the fact that the plant was first found in California.  (Dale 13).

General:  Uncommon in the study area, having only been found twice; first in the Santa Ana Heights at a low elevation, near the Delhi Ditch, and at 23rd St. on a bench two-thirds of the way up the bluff on the northerly side.  (my comments).     Plagiobothrys species have been known to accumulate free nitrates in quantities capable of causing death or distress in cattle.  (Fuller 385).      A rich purple dye or stain is contained in the root and stems of Plagiobothrys species.  (Parsons 32).       See Cryptantha intermedia for notes on the popcorn flower.

Text Ref:  Dale 78; Hickman, Ed. 388; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 265; Roberts 15.

Photo Ref:  March-April 86 # 14,15,16; April-June 97 #4.  

Identity: by John Johnson.  

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 208.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 10/23/02.

                                                April Photo