Stebbins' Lewisia

Lewisia stebbinsii is known only from the north Coast Ranges in Mendocino County

Taproots gradually ramified distally. Stems procumbent, 1.5-14 cm. Leaves: basal leaves withering after anthesis, gradually tapered to broad petiole, blade oblanceolate, spatulate, or obovate, flattened, 2.5-8.5 cm, margins entire, apex obtuse; cauline leaves absent. Inflores-cences subumbellate cymes, 1-3-branched, 3-11-flowered; bracts several, usually an opposite pair proximally, plus 2 at each flowering node distally, ovate to elliptical, 1.8-3 mm, margins glandular-toothed, apex acute. Flowers pedicellate, not disarticulate in fruit; sepals 2, broadly ovate, 3.5-7 mm, herbaceous at anthesis, margins glandular-toothed, apex rounded to truncate; petals 7-10, magenta or carmine with whitish bases, veins darker, oblanceolate or obovate, 8-10 mm; stamens 10-13; stigmas 3-4; pedicel 8-25 mm. Capsules 5-7 mm. Seeds 20, 1.5-2 mm, shiny, smooth.

Calif.

Flowering late spring-early summer.

Open meadows in dryish, rocky or gravelly soils; of conservation concern; 1900m.

Lewisia stebbinsii is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Montiaceae known by the common name Stebbins' lewisia. It is endemic to California, where it is known from less than fifteen sites in the Inner North Coast Ranges of Mendocino and Trinity Counties, mainly in Mendocino National Forest.