Franklin's Ceanothus
Ceanothus franklinii
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5T2Q
State (S-rank): S2
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Ceanothus franklinii is known from two Counties in southeastern Utah. These low shrubs can be seen bearing blue flowers April-May among pinyon-juniper and other desert shrub communities.
Description
C. franklinii grows as a low, rounded shrub reaching 20-50 cm in height. The branch structure is intricate, and small branches are covered in white wooly hair. Leaves grow opposite one another and measure 5-16 mm long and 3-8 mm wide, with an elliptic or obovate shape and a leathery, hairy appearance. Flowers are fragrant and grow in dense cluster where the outer flowers bloom first
Phenology
C. franklinii flowers in April to May. It has been noted in closely related Ceanothus that a second flowering period may occur August-October if the plant receives sufficient summer precipitation
Diagnostic characteristics
C. franklinii can be distinguished from the similar C. vestitus by its shorter height, more intricate branch structure, and blue flowers. It is also a plant endemic to the Colorado drainage system, whereas C. vestitus is generally found in the Virgin drainage system.
Species range
A Utah endemic, C. franklinii is only found within the Colorado River drainage, with a range extent estimated to be 4,300 km2. Though this represents a wide stretch of southeastern Utah, the plant is thinly scattered throughout and only estimated to occupy 76 square kilometers total in Grand and San Juan Counties. A possible specimen from Garfield County has been collected, but further investigation is required to verify the observation.
Habitat
This species is found among pinyon-juniper woodlands as well as blackbrush, skunkbush, and serviceberry communities, between 5400 to 6200 ft elevation
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies