Catalina rockflower

Shrubs or trees, 1–5 m. Leaves mostly well spaced, 20–90 mm. Pedicels mostly long. Flowers: sepals 8–12 mm; petals 12–18 mm. Follicles 2–9, 15–20(–32) mm. Seeds 18–22, 2–3 mm diam. 2n = 24.

Flowering Feb–May. Dry rocky slopes, often in canyons, coastal scrub and chaparral, on igneous or volcanic substrates; of conservation concern; 50–500 m; Calif.; Mexico (Baja California).

Crossosoma californicum is known only from the Palos Verdes Peninsula of Los Angeles County and the islands of San Clemente and Santa Catalina, as well as on Guadalupe Island (Baja California); it occasionally is cultivated as an ornamental.