Many thanks to Hollis from Wyoming for today's image, taken on a trip to Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park south of Santa Barbara, California. Hollis submitted the image via the BPotD Submissions Forum on this web site. Much appreciated, Hollis!
Santa Cruz Island silverhosackia or Santa Cruz Island bird's-foot trefoil is endemic to low elevations (<300 m) on Santa Cruz Island – it is found nowhere else in the world.
Considering its limited range, it is perhaps no surprise that it is endangered. According to the United Nations Environment Programme's site on US Islands, in an area of 255.7 square kilometres, Santa Cruz Island contains 420 species of plants. Of these, 40 are endemic to the archipelago of the Channel Islands, and eight of these can (could) only be found on Santa Cruz Island, including Lotus argophyllus var. niveus. Three of these endemics on Santa Cruz Island, however, are presumed extinct. Lotus argophyllus var. niveus shares its endangered status with seventeen other plant taxa.
Thanks to you Daniel for running these very interesting and fun websites.
I have a succulent (in southern california) That looks just like that.( I got it at the 99cent store) Is there a common close relative?
-Emily
Hi Emily,
No, this Lotus isn't a succulent. I vaguely recall which plant you are thinking of, but it might be worthwhile to post a photo to the indoor plants ID forum here at UBC to get it identified. It is something quite different, though.
Lotus argophyllus - Z9 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths