Hoary-leaf ceanothus Hoary-leaf ceanothus

Shrubs, 1.5–4 m. Stems erect, not rooting at nodes; branchlets grayish brown to brown, ± flexible to rigid, tomentulose, hairs straight. Leaves not fascicled; petiole 2–6 mm; blade flat to ± cupped, elliptic to widely elliptic, 12–25(–30) × 8–15(–23) mm, base obtuse to rounded, margins thick or revolute, entire to denticulate most of length, teeth 8–19, apex obtuse to rounded, abaxial surface pale green to white, tomentulose to glabrate, adaxial surface green, sparsely tomentulose, hairs straight, glabrescent. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, 1–2 cm. Flowers: sepals and petals white; nectary blue to black. Capsules 5–9 mm wide, sometimes weakly lobed at apex; valves viscid, smooth, horns lateral, prominent, erect, intermediate ridges absent. 2n = 24.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): California, nw Mexico.

Lower Taxa

• Ceanothus crassifolius var. crassifolius
• Ceanothus crassifolius var. planus Abrams
• Rhamnaceae Jussieu