Justicia californica (Chuparosa)

3/4/17 Shaver's Valley, E. Riverside County, CA

 3/21/04 Bajada All-Access Nature Trail, Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County, CA

4/4/04 Wash off east side of Cottonwood Road (south of Visitor Center), 

Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County, CA

 4/3/11 Meccacopia Trail, Box Canyon Road, Mecca Hills, Riverside County, CA

3/8/03 Cottonwood Road south of Visitor Center, 

Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Chuparosa

SPECIES: Justicia californica

FAMILY: Acanthaceae (Acanthus Family)

LIFE LIST DATE: 3/8/2003

LOCATION: Cottonwood Road south of Visitor Center, Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County, CA

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Treatment from The Jepson Manual (1993):

Shrub

Stem < 2 m, generally leafless in flower, canescent

Leaf: petiole < 20 mm; blade 1–6 cm, ovate, triangular, or ± round, puberulent

Inflorescence: raceme; bracts < 1 cm, lanceolate-elliptic, falling early; bractlets 2–5 mm, narrow-tapered

Flower: calyx 5–8 mm, lobes 5, lanceolate; corolla 2–4 cm, puberulent, dull scarlet (yellow), lips 1–2 cm, < tube, lobes of lower lip 1–4 mm

Fruit 1.5–2 cm, canescent

Seed 2.5–3.5 mm, ± round, mottled

Ecology: Dry sandy or rocky soils, especially washes

Elevation: < 800 m.  

Bioregional distribution: w Peninsular Ranges (San Diego River e of Wildcat Canyon), Sonoran Desert 

Distribution outside California: Arizona, nw Mexico

Flowering time: Mar–Jun

Synonyms: Beloperone c. Benth

Horticultural information: SUN, DRN: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 &IRR 12, 13, 14; DFCLT < 25 ° causes damage; CVS.