serpentine collomia

Collomia diversifolia Greene

Collomia diversifolia, known as serpentine collomia, is a flowering plant in the Polemoniaceae family. It is endemic to California and grows in the North Coast Ranges from the northern San Francisco Bay Area to Shasta County, specifically on serpentine soils. This small annual herb has dark, lance-shaped leaves, often with three small teeth on the most basal ones. The plant is branched and covered with glandular hairs. Its inflorescence features several star-shaped flowers, each about a centimeter wide, with violet lobes and a yellowish base that converge at a purple throat.

Description

Collomia diversifolia is a member of the phlox family and is native to California. It is adapted to serpentine soils and is found in the North Coast Ranges. The plant is an annual herb with multiple branches and leaves that are dark in color and lance-shaped. The leaves and stems are covered with varying densities of glandular hairs. The flowers are star-shaped, with violet lobes that have yellowish bases and a central purple throat. This species was first described in 1887 by Greene.