Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
California lilac ( Ceanothus thyrsiflorus )
The California lilac ( Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ) is a plant of the genus coffers flowers ( Ceanothus ) within the family of the buckthorn family ( Rhamnaceae ). The natural range of the species is in California.
Description
The California lilac grows as a shrub with stature heights of up to 12 meters and a diameter of 0.25 to 0.28 meters. In wind-exposed sites of the California lilac is only 0.3 to 0.6 meters high, flowering and fruiting, however anyway. He shares already at a height of 1.5 to 2.0 meters in several strains. The bark is thin with a reddish brown surface which is coated in scales. The flowering time is in the spring. In trugdoldigen inflorescences many flowers are borne. The fragrant flowers are fünfzählig double perianth. The five petals are blue or white.
Ecology
Like all purse flower species survived the California lilac in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing Frankia bacteria air, which is called Aktinorrhiza.
Occurrence
The California Lilac occurs in shady hills, forest edges or streams west of California. The largest specimen thrive in the regions of the coastal sequoia (Sequoia sempervirens), often together with the Douglas Fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii), willow ( Salix) and oak species ( Quercus ).
Discovery
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus was discovered in 1816 by Johann Friedrich Eschscholtz during the circumnavigation of the Rurik expedition.
System
The first description of Ceanothus thyrsiflorus in 1826 by Johann Friedrich Eschscholtz in Mémoires de l' Académie des Sciences de St. Imperiale Pétersbourg. Avec l' Histoire de l' Académie, Volume 10, 2, p 285, there under the name " thyrsiflora ".
From Ceanothus thyrsiflorus there are two varieties:
- Ceanothus repens var thyrsiflorus McMinn
- Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Eschsch. var thyrsiflorus
Use
The wood is fairly soft with light brown heartwood and thin, darker sapwood. The California lilac was introduced in 1837 as an ornamental plant in the United Kingdom, however, soon superseded by other hybrids.
Others
From the young leaves by squeezing methyl salicylate ( wintergreen oil ) can be extracted.