Camissoniopsis micrantha (Hornem. ex Spreng.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch

Growth Form

Camissoniopsis micrantha is an annual herbaceous plant that grows a basal rosette of leaves. The entire plant is covered in dense, grayish, spreading hairs.

Stem Characteristics

Its stems can be either decumbent and branched, or erect and simple, and are typically less than 60 cm (24 inches) long.

Leaf Size

Its dark green leaves range from 1 to 12 cm (0.39 to 4.72 inches) in length; the largest leaves are the basal leaves that make up the rosette.

Cauline Leaf Features

Cauline leaves are generally narrowly lanceolate in shape, with minutely toothed (dentate) margins, and are sessile.

Inflorescence Traits

As with other species in its genus, the inflorescence is a spike that is nodding when in bud, and the hairs covering the inflorescence are non-glandular.

Hypanthium Size

Flowers have a hypanthium 1.2 to 2 mm (0.047 to 0.079 inches) long.

Floral Parts

They have 4 sepals measuring 1 to 2.5 mm (0.039 to 0.098 inches), and 4 yellow petals 1.4 to 4.5 mm (0.055 to 0.177 inches) long, with up to 2 red spots near the petal base.

Fruit Characteristics

Fruits are cylindric in shape, 13 to 25 mm (0.51 to 0.98 inches) long by 1.1 to 1.8 mm (0.043 to 0.071 inches) wide.

Seed Size

Seeds measure 0.7 to 1.1 mm (0.028 to 0.043 inches) across.

Geographic Range

This species is distributed in Arizona and California in the United States, and Baja California in Mexico.

Baja California Distribution

It is very rare in Baja California, where it is only found near Ojos Negros and San Quintín.

Habitat

It grows in habitats including canyons, coastal dunes, beaches, sandy fields, and washes.