Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family) Members of Polemoniaceae found in the Bay Area are all natives, even though many of them have become popular garden plants. Almost all are herbaceous annuals, with 5 calyx lobes, 5 corolla lobes, 5 stamens attached to the corolla, and a pistil that developes 3 seed-producing sections. On Montara Mountain, members of Polemoniaceae include: Gilia clivorum (Grassland Gilia) Linanthus bicolor (Bicolor Linanthus) Linanthus parviflorus (Common Linanthus) Navarretia squarrosa (Skunkweed) On the coastal bluffs at the edge of the Montara Mountain sea terrace, we have one very rare and special member: Linanthus croceus

Linanthus bicolor: Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family) Flowers: 5 petals, pink/white to white, no dots on petals; bright yellow "throat"; on long pedicel, 1/4 in. across Blooms: April - June. Leaves: Opposite, with 5 lobes, forming a star-like ring on lower stem; higher up the stem they bunch to form a fingered-globe below the flower. Fruit/Seeds: ?? Location: At higher elevations in grassy, rocky areas Status: Native - Uncommon

Linanthus bicolor 600x450 JPEG - 48K

Further description & Comment: Less than 10 cm tall. Somewhat similar in form and structure to the rare Linanthus croceus ; but shorter and with a smaller flower and different coloring. This pure white colony is up near the peaks, just off the main service road. <-- 450x650 JPEG - 56K

Linanthus croceus: Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family) Flowers: 5 petals, bright yellow with two red dots on face toward base of each petal; on long pediel, 1/2 in. across Blooms: May 1999 Leaves: Opposite, with 5 lobes, forming a star-like ring on lower stem; higher up the stem they bunch to form a fingered-globe below the flower. Fruit/Seeds: ?? Location: One very small area of coastal bluff below Montara Mountain. Status: Native - Very Rare and Endangered		Linanthus croceus 600x450 JPEG - 32K
		Further description & Comment: 4 - 5 (more than 10 cm) inches tall, herbaceous annual. Similar in structure to L. bicolor - (Bicolor Linanthus), but taller and with larger flowers that are bright yellow. Linanthus croceus. has not been seen since it was identified decades ago by Alice Eastwood on Point San Pedro at the south end of Pacifica. This small population, the only one known to exist, was first discovered in 1995 by Half Moon Bay Botanist Toni Corelli. Over the past year, Robyn Battaglia completed the analysis and confirmation of its identity as part of her thesis work at San Francisco State University. Members of the California Native Plant Society will be filing the discovery with the State and Federal governments for rare & endangered listing. <-- 450x650 JPEG - 44K
L. croceus tends to grow in small colonies like the one shown here 600x450 JPEG - 64K	A close-up of the leaf stuctures below the flowers. 600x450 JPEG - 68K	A picture of the immediate bluff habitat, with sea pinks, bluff lettuce and coast buckwheat. 600x450 JPEG - 104K	One of the plants just starting to form seeds - updates as they develope. 600x450 JPEG - 28K

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