Plectritis congesta (Lindl.) DC.
sea blush (black cup fungus; rosy plectritis; shortspur seablush)
Caprifoliaceae (Valerian family)
(Previously in Valerianaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Frank Lomer     (Photo ID #90211)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Plectritis congesta
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

Plectritis congesta ssp. congesta

Species Information

General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect, solitary, simple, smooth, 10-60 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves soon deciduous; stem leaves opposite, lowermost leaves spoon-shaped or egg-shaped with short stalks, others more oblong or elliptic and stalkless, smooth, 1-6 cm long, 3-22 mm wide.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of terminal, more or less headlike clusters; corollas white to pale or dark pink 1.5-9.5 mm long, 2-lobed, with a slender spur, the tip usually enlarged; calyces lacking.
Fruits:
Achenes, dry, 2-4 mm long, convex side of body usually keeled, not grooved lengthwise, winged or not, the wing margins not thickened, hairy near the tips or along the margins.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Plectritis congesta

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
161 90 315
Slope Gradient (%)
38 3 90

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

164 23 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
1 0 3
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
B
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
53
Modal BEC Zone Class
CDF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

CDF(19), CWH(2)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to vernally moist meadows or dry rocky sites in the lowland zone; common in SW BC, rare in the Queen Charlotte Islands; S to CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia