Leptosiphon pygmaeus

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Leptosiphonpygmaeus.jpg

|genus = Leptosiphon

|species = pygmaeus

|authority = (Brand) J.M.Porter & L.A.Johnson

|synonyms = Linanthus pygmaeus

}}

Leptosiphon pygmaeus (syn. Linanthus pygmaeus) is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name pygmy linanthus.

Distribution

It is native across much of California, including the western Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, California Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges. It is also native to the California Channel Islands (U.S.), and Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California (México).[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=10061 Calflora: Leptosiphon pygmaeus]

It can be found below {{convert|3000|m|ft}} in open or wooded areas in hills, mountains, and valleys, and in many types of habitats including chaparral, oak woodland, grassland, and yellow pine forest.

Description

Leptosiphon pygmaeus is a petite annual herb growing {{convert|2|-|30|cm|in}} high. It has tiny threadlike leaves.

The inflorescence is an open array of minute light to deep pink flowers {{convert|7|-|10|mm|in}} wide, with rich yellow throats. The bloom period is March to July.

=Subspecies=

  • Leptosiphon pygmaeus subsp. continentalis — mainland distribution in coastal ranges.[https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=80364 Jepson: Leptosiphon pygmaeus subsp. continentalis]
  • Leptosiphon pygmaeus subsp. pygmaeus — Pygmy desert-gold, endemic to coastal sage scrub on San Clemente Island (California) and Guadalupe Island (Baja California).[https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=80365 Jepson: Leptosiphon pygmaeus subsp. pygmaeus] It is a Critically endangered species.[http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Linanthus+pygmaeus+ssp.+pygmaeus Natureserve.org: Comprehensive Report on Linanthus pygmaeus ssp. pygmaeus]

References

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