Linanthus killipii

Linanthus killipii, known by the common name Baldwin Lake linanthus, is a rare species of flowering plant in the phlox family.[1][2]

Linanthus killipii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Polemoniaceae
Genus: Linanthus
Species:
L. killipii
Binomial name
Linanthus killipii

Distribution

The plant is endemic to the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California, where it is known from only a few occurrences in the vicinity of Baldwin Lake, a natural intermittent alkali lake near to the east of Big Bear Lake reservoir.[2] It grows at elevations of 1,700–2,400 metres (5,600–7,900 ft).[1]

The wildflower is a member of the flora in the rare quartz pebble plain habitat type on the north side of the lake, and of open meadows in the adjacent montane chaparral, pinyon-juniper woodland, and red fir forest habitats.[2][3] The diversity of Big Bear Valley Pebble Plains species has been compared to that of coral reefs, and include 17 protected plant species and four rare kinds of butterflies [3] KBHR radio: "Pebble Plain Habitat… Only in Big Bear"

Description

Linanthus killipii is a small annual herb producing a hairy stem from 5–15 centimetres (2.0–5.9 in) tall. The leaves are divided into needle-like linear lobes each up to 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in length.[1]

The inflorescence is an array of a few tiny flowers, each funnel-shaped with white lobes marked with purple at the bases and joined at a yellow throat. The bloom period is May and June.[1]

Conservation

The pebble plain population is within the Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve [3] Other populations are threatened by development and vehicles. It is a listed Endangered species on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants.[4]

References
  1. Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Linanthus killipii
  2. Calflora Database: Linanthus killipii
  3. Calflora.net Blog: "Pebble Plains at Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve" (with photo gallery), by Michael L. Charters, April 2012.
  4. California Native Plant Society, Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02): Leptosiphon acicularis . accessed 1 April 2016.
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