Trichostema rubisepalum

Trichostema rubisepalum is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name Hernandez bluecurls. It is endemic to California, where it has a disjunct distribution, occurring in three main locations. It is known from the North Coast Ranges of Napa County, the Central Coast Ranges of San Benito County south of the San Francisco Bay Area, and a section of the Sierra Nevada foothills. Its habitat includes forest, woodland, chaparral, and intermittent streambeds and seasonal pools. This annual herb grows to approximately half a meter in maximum height, its aromatic herbage coated in long and short glandular and nonglandular hairs. The leaves are lance-shaped. The inflorescence is a long cyme of flowers growing from the stem between each leaf pair. Each flower has a hairy calyx of pointed sepals which often take on a dark red coloration. The flower has a tubular throat and a lipped, purple corolla. The four protruding, curved stamens are about half a centimeter long.

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile
• California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile
• Photo gallery