14. Crocanthemum scoparium (Nuttall) Millspaugh, Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 5: 175. 1923.
[F]
Broom or peak rushrose Broom or peak rushrose
Helianthemum scoparium Nuttall in J. Torrey and A. Gray, Fl. N. Amer. 1: 152. 1838
Subshrubs. Stems spreading to erect-fastigiate, 10–45 cm, usually sparsely stellate-pubescent to glabrate, sometimes densely lanate. Leaves cauline, <tending to be deciduous in summer>; petiole 0–2 mm; blade linear, 5–11 × 0.5–2(–3.5) mm, surfaces stellate-pubescent to glabrate abaxially, sparsely stellate-pubescent to glabrate adaxially, lateral veins obscure abaxially. Inflorescences terminal, panicles or racemes; chasmogamous flowers 1–18 per panicle or raceme, cleistogamous 0. Pedicels 2–6 mm, <sparsely or not glandular-hairy>; bracts 2–4 × 0.3–0.5 mm. Chasmogamous flowers: outer sepals linear, 1.5–3.5 × 0.3 mm, inner sepals 3.5–5(–7.5) × 2–3 mm, apex acute to acuminate; <calyx stellate-pubescent, hairs to 1 mm>; petals obovate, 3–6 × 3–5 mm; capsules 2.8–3.8 × 2–2.5 mm, glabrous.
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): California, nw Mexico.
Even with the recognition of Crocanthemum aldersonii and C. suffrutescens as separate species, morphological diversity within C. scoparium still remains considerable. The two varieties here recognized show differences in habit, average plant height, number of flowers, and distribution. Another variant occurs sporadically along the coast and on Santa Cruz Island, from Monterey to San Diego counties; vegetative parts (at least distal branches, pedicels, and sepals) are covered with white, lanate hairs. This variant has never been formally named. Another form from coastal Mendocino County was called “Helianthemum mendocinensis” by Alice Eastwood on a specimen (H. E. Brown 785, JEPS); the name was never published. These plants have densely stellate-pubescent stems and exceptionally elongate sepal tips.
