Cladus: Eukaryota Name Carpenteria Torr., Proc. Amer. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 4: 192. 1851. References * USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. [1] (20 February 2009) Carpenteria californica (pronounced /ˌkɑrpənˈtɪəriə ˌkælɨˈfɔrnɨkə/),[1] the sole species in the genus Carpenteria, is an evergreen shrub native to California. It is closey related to the genus Philadelphus. Common names include Tree-anemone and Bush-anemone. It is a rare species, endemic to only seven sites in Fresno and Madera Counties, where it grows in chaparral between 340-1340 m altitude between the San Joaquin and King rivers. It is well adapted to wildfire, reproducing by stump sprouts after burning; natural seedlings are rare. It grows to 1-3 m tall, with flaky bark on older stems. The leaves are opposite, lanceolate, 4-10 cm long and 1-2.5 cm broad, glossy green above, blue-green to whitish and downy beneath. The flowers are 3-7 cm diameter, with 5-8 pure white petals and a cluster of yellow stamens; flowering is from late spring to mid summer. The fruit is a leathery capsule 6-12 mm diameter, containing numerous seeds. It is a popular ornamental plant in gardens with Mediterranean climates, grown for its decorative flowers; it is now much more common in cultivation than in the wild. Several cultivars have been selected, including 'Bodnant' (a cold-tolerant cultivar hardy to -15°C in the British Isles) and 'Ladham's' with large flowers. Note that Carpenteria should not be confused with the similarly spelled Carpentaria, a genus of palms native to northern Australia. History The genus was named in honor of Dr. William Marbury Carpenter[2], a noted Southern natural scientist, who was born on June 25, 1811 in Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. References 1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607 Source: Wikispecies: All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License |
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