Flannel Bush
Fremontodendron californicum
Observed along a roadside in the ponderosa forest near the summit of the
Mazatzal Mountains, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA. August 2011.
The abundant nectar in the flower has drawn a group of Crematogaster ants, a small fly, and an even smaller beetle.
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FLOWERS: Five bright yellow petals free to the base. Diameter of flower is about 13mm. Easily seen in the photo are the stamen filaments fused into a tube.
LEAVES: Leaves and twigs are coated with a thick layer of velvety hairs from which comes the name 'flannel bush'.
SHRUB: In Arizona's mountains this plant attains a size of 2 to 3 meters.
RANGE: Uncommon in ponderosa woodlands: best chance to find this plant is in the Mazatzal Mountains at the boundary of Maricopa and Gila Counties. It is more common in the mountains of southern California.
FRUIT: A dry capsule that splits open into about five sections.
UNARMED. Thornless.
Sterculiaceae -- Cacao Family
sometimes combined into Malvaceae -- Mallow Family
More Information:
- Southwest Environemtnal Information Network
- Jepson Manual
- USDA Plant Profile
- ITIS Taxonomic Report
- Google Images
- Google Scholar Literature Search