| Carpenteria californica, commonly called tree
anemone or carpenteria, is one of California's most lovely and most rare
shrubs. It is found naturally only in the foothills of eastern Fresno
County between the San Joaquin and Kings Rivers, at elevations from 1500
to 4000 feet. The most vigorous populations are found where moisture is
relatively abundant, on north-facing slopes and in ravines.
Carpenteria is a puzzling species. Although typically found in the
chaparral plant community, carpenteria does not display the usual
features that help chaparral shrubs to endure extreme heat and annual
drought. It is an evergreen shrub with leaves that lack the hard-leaved,
drought-adapted characteristics of typical chaparral shrubs. Each year
by July, carpenteria leaves droop, wilt, and turn yellow, appearing
nearly dead until the first soaking rains of fall. At this time the
leaves actually regain their former green color and firmness and resume
normal function. Carpenteria seems to be only marginally adapted to its
harsh habitat, and this may be because it is better suited to a moister,
cooler climate that existed thousands of years ago.
The sex life of carpenteria is another interesting ecological
mystery. Much energy is invested each spring in masses of large, showy
flowers. These flowers attract pollinators quite successfully, and
hundreds of viable seeds develop, yet rarely does a seedling actually
become established except for after a fire. It is still unknown what
factors associated with fire allow seedlings to establish, perhaps fire
sterilizes the soil or removes competition sufficiently for seedlings to
survive.
The history of carpenteria's discovery is entertaining. Originally
discovered by John Fremont in 1845, and described by Dr. Torrey from
rather withered specimens, carpenteria's natural locale remained a
mystery to California botanists for another 30 years. Fremont gave the
"headwaters of the San Joaquin" as the site of collection, and
not until 1875 was the original site relocated near Tollhouse by Dr.
Gustav Eisen of Sweden. Meanwhile, carpenteria had become very popular
abroad in Europe and England as a garden plant.
Protection of the carpenteria populations on Black Mountain adds
significantly to efforts to maintain the long-term viability of this
unique and lovely species.
|
