| Diffuse Spineflower |
| Chorizanthe diffusa |
| Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) |
| Flowers — color: white, size: 1/8", type: 6 petals |
Appearances are deceiving. Diffuse Spineflower seems to have three small white petals, roughly 1/8" diameter. Each petal has a fine dark longitudinal stripe and long, thin needle at the end. But what we see as petals are an involucre, the outer protective parts, of three white phyllaries with sharp points. Six tepals, similar petals and sepals, form a white corolla less than 1/16", with a yellow cup and lumpy yellow anthers.
Several finely hairy flower stems grow from the basal rosette and each branches several times, less than four inches tall and spreading. The stems start with a reddish tinge that turns deep red as the the base withers. Each branch holds an umbel, umbrella-like cluster, of these tiny flowers. In addition, each branching junction holds a single flower with green to red involucres and tiny white bloom.
Habit:
Diffuse Spineflower is an annual herb. The basal rosette has oblanceolate, broader near the tip, leaves and is about two inches across. It disappears before the blooming period ends.
Diffuse Spineflower has endangered status, but appears to be common in BMER and along the California coast. Medical research has found antioxidant behavior and activity against some tumors.
A similar species, California spineflower, grows in BMER. It too has a red branching flower stem, but the blooms have six petals with rounded ends, and they appear at leaf nodes along the stem instead the terminus.
Observations:
Open sandy breaks in woodlands, Maritime chaparral, or coastal scrub. I often find this spineflower associated with hooked navarretia (Navarretia hamata)].