Diplacus pictus
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Diplacus pictus is a species of monkeyflower known by the common name calico monkeyflower.[3][4][5][6][7]
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| Diplacus pictus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Phrymaceae |
| Genus: | Diplacus |
| Species: | D. pictus |
| Binomial name | |
| Diplacus pictus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Distribution
The wildflower is endemic to California, found only above the southeastern San Joaquin Valley within Kern County and Tulare County.[3]
It is known only from the western Tehachapi Mountains and southernmost Sierra Nevada foothills, at elevations of 135–1,250 metres (443–4,101 ft).[3][8][9] It grows in open California oak woodland habitat, in bare rocky soils around granite outcrops.[3][8]
It is a listed Endangered species on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants.[10]
Description
Diplacus pictus is a small annual herb growing from 2–38 centimetres (1–15 in) in height.[8]
The stem is hairy and rectangular in cross-section. The oppositely arranged leaves are somewhat oval in shape and up to 4.5 centimeters long.
The tubular base of the flower is encapsulated in a dark reddish calyx of sepals with uneven lobes. The five-lobed flower has a maroon throat and the circular face is white with bold and intricately patterned purple-brown veining.[8] The bloom period varies from March to May.[8]