Trichostema parishii Vasey

Taxon Identity

Trichostema parishii Vasey is a shrub that reaches a maximum height of about 12 decimetres (3.9 ft).

Foliage Texture

Its aromatic foliage is covered with a coat of short glandular and nonglandular hairs.

Leaf Shape and Size

The plant produces linear leaves that grow up to 6 centimeters long.

Leaf Margin and Hairiness

The edges of these leaves curl under, and the leaves are hairy, particularly on their undersides.

Axillary Leaf Clusters

A cluster of smaller leaves can form in the axil of each main leaf.

Inflorescence Arrangement

The inflorescence is a long cyme of flowers that grows from the stem between each pair of leaves.

Inflorescence Pubescence

This inflorescence is covered in fluffy, woolly hairs that have blue, pink, and purple tones.

Flower Structure

Each individual flower has a hairy calyx made up of pointed sepals, plus a tubular, lipped purple corolla; the main lower lip of the corolla grows up to one centimeter in length.

Stamen Characteristics

The four stamens are long and curved, reaching up to 2.5 centimeters long.

Blooming Period

This species blooms from March to May.

Species Distribution

It is native to the Transverse Ranges and Peninsular Ranges of southern California, extending south into Baja California.

Habitat and Elevation

Its native habitats are chaparral and coastal sage scrub, and it grows at elevations between 600 and 2,000 metres (2,000–6,600 ft).