''Collinsia multicolor'' is a species of flowering plant in the
plantain family
Plantaginaceae, the plantain family, is a large, diverse family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales that includes common flowers such as snapdragon and foxglove. It is unrelated to the banana-like fruit also called "plantain." In older cl ...
, known by the common names San Francisco blue eyed Mary and San Francisco collinsia. It is
endemic to the
San Francisco Bay Area, where it is known from
San Francisco to
Santa Cruz. As of 2008 there are 22 known occurrences. Populations south of Santa Cruz have been
extirpated.
Elkhorn Slough Local Profile
/ref>
The plant grows in coniferous forests and shady, moist habitats of the coastal chaparral scrub.
Description
''Collinsia multicolor'' is an annual herb
In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...
producing a delicate, slender stem 30 to 60 centimeters tall. The upper parts of the stem are hairy and sticky with glands. The oppositely arranged leaves are triangular lance-shaped with serrated edges, each pair clasping the stem where they meet.
The inflorescence is a series of whorls or clusters of flowers, the lower series bearing one or two flowers and the upper bearing several in a whorl. Each flower arises on a pedicel
Pedicle or pedicel may refer to:
Human anatomy
*Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures
...
. The corolla
Corolla may refer to:
*Corolla (botany), the petals of a flower, considered as a unit
*Toyota Corolla, an automobile model name
* Corolla (headgear), an ancient headdress in the form of a circlet or crown
* ''Corolla'' (gastropod), a genus of moll ...
is between one and two centimeters long and has two white upper lobes sometimes dotted with purple and three lavender to purple lower lobes.
This plant was first described by the English architect Joseph Paxton
Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...
in association with John Lindley
John Lindley FRS (5 February 1799 – 1 November 1865) was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.
Early years
Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley w ...
.
References
External links
*
Jepson Manual Treatment: ''Collinsia multicolor''''Collinsia multicolor'' - Photo gallery
multicolor
Endemic flora of California
Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
Natural history of the California Coast Ranges
Endemic flora of the San Francisco Bay Area
{{Plantaginaceae-stub