ericoid's Favorites

Locally abundant 100+ individuals amongst lichen, fungi and moss in crevices in roof tiles on northwest and north side of Casino roof. Soil is mix of degradation of clay roof tiles, concrete/plaster material, and nutrients imported by birds: nesting materials, scat, and other waste (fish bones, feathers, etc.). Hundreds of plants at all life stages. South facing side of casino roof contains only a handful of scattered specimens and some Opuntia. Less soil is built on southern facing side.

Growing on Miocene sandstone (Zayante).

Diagnostics:
• erect shrub lacking a basal burl
• short AND long glandular hairs on the ovaries
• long, foliaceous inflorescence bracts covered in dense canescent hairs and short glandular hairs
• glaucous leaves covered in short, canescent hairs
• unifacial leaves with stomata on both surfaces
• glandular-hairy fruit
• auriculate leaf bases; some clasping, some with short petioles (less than 4 mm)

This "Caña colihue" bamboo is of interest, for what it tells us about the mystery of simultaneous flowering in bamboos.
In this case, the original stock for the hedge of bamboo canes growing along the front of this yard in the center of Bariloche town (photo 7) were dug up in the native forest of Llao Llao Municipal Park about 25 years earlier (personal communication of the current owners of the house). Yet, growing and multiplying the canes at about 25 kilometers from their earlier "home" in the forest, and in a much more arid environment, this hedge of bamboo flowered in a massive way in the spring of 2010 (photos 1-7). These plants flowered at the same time as the bamboo in the forest flowered.
The "inference" is that these plants have some sort of an internal "clock" that counts the passage of years (about 70 in this case) from the year when they sprouted. Similar, simultaneous flowering of transplanted bamboos has been observed in botany gardens. The Kew Garden, in England, had species that were brought from Asia and flowered in England in the same year as the parent stock. I think that I read the Kew Gardens also had a clump of the "caña colihue" brought from Chile that flowered in the same year as it flowered in Chile. How this "clock" works is unknown.

Initially ID was M. glomerata, California Native but introduced and found in this ecosystem. Generally found in higher elevations. Location on coast side of Haul Rd, MacKerricher State Park.
Upon further review in Jepson and suggested ID by reodell I’m going with M. sativa. Also it’s been more than a year since the original ID and I should revisit the location and look for fruit next season. Edited. 12-17-2022

Photo #1 - Abaxial edge serrate
Photo #2 - Large yellow flower
Photo #3 - Flower pedicelled, 3-4cm sepals
Photo #4 - Leaf sharp-triangular in ×-section
Photo #5 - Habit. Leaves widest below middle

From Jepson Key:

• Flower 3–5 cm diam, petals rose-magenta; ovary chambers 6–8; leaf 4–7 cm, rounded-triangular in ×-section, abaxial angle smooth ..... C. chilensis
• Flower 8–10 cm diam, petals yellow (± white) aging pink; ovary chambers 7–14; leaf 6–10 cm, sharp-triangular in ×-section, abaxial angle serrate near tip ..... C. edulis

From Jepson Description:
C. chilensis (SEA FIG) - Leaf: widest above middle, glaucous. Flower: sessile; sepals 1--2 cm; petals 1--2.5 cm. Fruit: soft when ripe.
Ecology: Common on coastal sandy shores; Elevation: < 100 m

C. edulis (FREEWAY ICEPLANT) - Leaf: widest below middle, not glaucous. Flower: pedicelled; sepals 3--4 cm, sharp-triangular in ×-section, outer angle serrate near tip; petals 3--4 cm. Fruit: triangular, +- flat toward pedicel.

https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=77164