About Leptosiphon androsaceus Benth.
Leptosiphon androsaceus Benth. is an annual herb that grows a hairy stem between 5 and 45 centimetres (2.0 and 17.7 inches) long, and the stem is often erect. Its oppositely arranged leaves are each divided into lobes up to 3 centimeters long; these lobes range in shape from oval to linear to needlelike. The tip of the stem holds an inflorescence of flowers that is one to three centimeters wide, and the flowers are usually pink or lavender, with yellow or white throats. This species is similar to its close relative true babystars (Leptosiphon bicolor). This plant is endemic to California. It is found primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area, and also occurs in the California Coast Ranges of northern and central California, the Southern Sierra Nevada, and the Peninsular Ranges and Transverse Ranges of southern California. It grows at elevations below 1,200 metres (3,900 ft), in chaparral, oak woodland, and grassland habitats. Two similar species are Leptosiphon latisectus, which is endemic to the Outer Northern California Coast Ranges, and Leptosiphon rosaceus, which is endemic to Central Coast and Bay Area shorelines. This species is cultivated as an ornamental plant for its small, colorful blooms.
