About Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh
Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, commonly known as redstem ceanothus. It is native to western North America, where its range extends from British Columbia to Montana to far northern California; populations have also been recorded in Michigan. It grows in temperate coniferous forest habitat, occurring in forest openings among conifer trees. This is an erect shrub that reaches a maximum height of nearly 3 meters. Its stem is red to purple, and its new woody growth is green and hairless. The deciduous leaves are alternately arranged along stems and grow up to around 10 centimeters long. Leaves are thin, light green, and oval in shape, typically edged with glandular teeth. The undersides of the leaves are sometimes hairy. The inflorescence is a cluster of white flowers that reaches up to around 12 centimeters in length. The fruit is a smooth, three-lobed capsule approximately 4 millimeters long. This shrub is an important food source for wild ungulates such as Rocky Mountain Elk, it is browsed eagerly by many types of livestock, and its seeds are eaten by many types of animals. Its roots host nitrogen-fixing nodules.
