Neviusia cliftonii explained

Neviusia cliftonii is a rare species of shrub in the rose family which is known by the common name Shasta snow-wreath. It is endemic to Shasta County, California, where it is known from about 25 occurrences in the mountains around Lake Shasta.[1]

The shrub was not known to science until 1992, when it was discovered east of Redding, California and described as a new species in Neviusia, previously a monotypic genus.[2]

Description

Neviusia cliftonii is an erect deciduous shrub reaching 2.5m (08.2feet) in maximum height. The alternately arranged leaves are oval or heart-shaped and lined with toothed lobes. The leaf blades reach 6cm (02inches) long and are borne on short petioles. The inflorescence is an umbel-like cluster of 3 to 5 flowers. The flower is a ball of about 50 long, whiskery white stamens each about 0.5cm (00.2inches) long. There is rarely a single white petal base to the stamens, although the petals are often absent. The fruit type is a soft-bodied achene a few millimeters long [anatomically the fruit is an achenetum].

When not in flower, the plant resembles common shrubs such as oceanspray and ninebark; that's why, probably it has gone unrecognized for so long.[3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://northcoastcnps.org/cgi-bin/inv/inventory.cgi/Go?_id=neviusia_cliftonii&sort=DEFAULT&search=Neviusia%20cliftonii California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile
  2. Shevock, J. R., B. Ertter, and D. W. Taylor. (1992). Neviusia cliftonii (Rosaceae: Kerrieae), an intriguing new relict species from California. Novon 2:4 285-89.
  3. Nelson, J. K. Plant of the Week: Shasta Snow-wreath. USFS.