Adenostoma sparsifolium
| Adenostoma sparsifolium | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Adenostoma |
| Species: | A. sparsifolium
|
| Binomial name | |
| Adenostoma sparsifolium | |
Adenostoma sparsifolium, commonly known as redshanks or less commonly (outside of area of its principal distribution), ribbonwood or ribbon bush, is a multi-trunked tree or shrub native to dry slopes or chaparral of Southern California and northern Baja California.
Description
Shaggy falling shanks or ribbons of bark are one of the strongest characteristics of the Adenostoma sparsifolium tree, hence the common names. It also has many stems originating from one root system that lack foliage until they reach a certain height above the ground. As the species name "sparsifolium" suggests, it has tiny, pale green, filamentous leaves. Adenostoma sparsifolium usually ranges from 3 to 15 feet with some individuals reaching up to 20 feet. Redshanks are closely related to the more abundant Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum).[2]
Ecology
Redshanks inhabits higher elevations of chaparral just above and below the snowline in the Peninsular Ranges and does best on north-facing "ubac" slopes at around 4,000 feet of elevation. Associates at its lower range include California Scrub Oak and Hoary Ceanothus, and mingles with manzanitas at its upper range.
Like its relative, chamise, it is capable of resprouting after a fire.
See also
References
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer - Adenostoma sparsifolium". NatureServe Explorer Adenostoma sparsifolium. NatureServe. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ Marion, Lois H. (1943). "The Distribution of Adenostoma sparsifolium". The American Midland Naturalist. 29 (1): 106–116. doi:10.2307/2420982. ISSN 0003-0031.
- Marion, Lois H. “The Distribution of Adenostoma Sparsifolium.” The American Midland Naturalist, vol. 29, no. 1, 1943, pp. 106–16. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2420982. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
- Blanchan, Neltje (2005). Wild Flowers Worth Knowing. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
- Schoenherr, Allan A. (1992). A Natural History of California. University of California Press.
External links
Media related to Adenostoma sparsifolium at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Adenostoma sparsifolium at Wikispecies