''Lewisia oppositifolia'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family
Montiaceae known by the common name opposite-leaf lewisia. It is native to the
Klamath Mountains of
Josephine County, Oregon, and
Del Norte County, California, where it is a local
serpentine
Serpentine may refer to:
Shapes
* Serpentine shape, a shape resembling a serpent
* Serpentine curve, a mathematical curve
* Serpentine, a type of riding figure
Science and nature
* Serpentine subgroup, a group of minerals
* Serpentinite, a ...
endemic generally found in moist areas. This is a perennial herb growing from a small
taproot and
caudex
A caudex (plural: caudices) of a plant is a stem, but the term is also used to mean a rootstock and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises.pages 456 and 695
In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is m ...
unit. It produces a basal rosette of several lance-shaped, blunt-tipped fleshy leaves up to 11 centimeters long. There are sometimes smaller leaves located on the lower stem. The
inflorescence is made up of one or more erect stems up to about 20 centimeters long, each bearing 1 to 6 flowers. The flower has 8 to 11 white to pale pink petals with blunt or jagged tips, each between 1 and 2 centimeters long. At the center are several
stamen
The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...
s with pale anthers. This plant has a limited distribution and it is threatened by human activity in the area, such as
logging
Logging is the process of cutting, processing, and moving trees to a location for transport. It may include skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks or skeleton cars.
Logging is the beginning of a supply chain ...
.
External links
*
Jepson Manual TreatmentPhoto gallery
oppositifolia
Flora of California
Flora of Oregon
Flora without expected TNC conservation status
{{Caryophyllales-stub