Nemophila maculata

Nemophila maculata
Nemophila maculata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: (unplaced)
Family: Boraginaceae
Subfamily: Hydrophylloideae
Genus: Nemophila
Species: N. maculata
Binomial name
Nemophila maculata
Benth. ex Lindl.

Nemophila maculata is a species of flowering plant in the borage family, Boraginaceae. It is an annual herb that flowers in the spring. The common name for N. maculata is the fivespot or five-spot. It is a native species to California where it is endemic.

The flowers of N. maculata are bowl-shaped, white with dark veins and dots. The lobe tips are purple-spotted. The corolla is 1 to 2 centimeters long and up to 5 centimeters wide. The leaves are up to 3 centimeters long and 1.5 wide, and are divided into several smooth or toothed lobes.

The seeds are greenish-brown and are smooth or shallowly pitted. The fruit produces up to 12 seeds. The entire fruiting and seed cycle begins in spring and ends in the summer.

N. maculata is often grown as an ornamental plant in gardens.

Distribution and ecology

N. maculata is found on slopes in elevations between 20 and 1000 meters. It is most common in the Sierra Nevada and Sacramento Valley, and occurs as far south as San Bernardino and Santa Barbara Counties. It is found in several plant communities, including valley grassland, foothill woodland, and pine and fir forest.

The spots that give N. maculata its common name evolved to attract its primary pollinators, which are solitary bees. Male and female bees feed on the nectar and females collect pollen to feed their larvae.

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nemophila maculata — five spot five spot n. 1. (Bot.) A California annual ({Nemophila maculata}) having white flowers with a deep purple blotch on each petal. Syn: five spot, {Nemophila maculata}. [WordNet 1.5] 2. a playing card or a domino or a die whose upward face …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nemophila maculata — five spot five spot n. 1. (Bot.) A California annual ({Nemophila maculata}) having white flowers with a deep purple blotch on each petal. Syn: five spot, {Nemophila maculata}. [WordNet 1.5] 2. a playing card or a domino or a die whose upward face …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nemophila maculata — dėmėtoji nemofilė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Hidrofilinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Nemophila maculata), paplitęs Kalifornijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Nemophila maculata angl. fivespot šaltinis Valstybinės lietuvių kalbos komisijos… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Nemophila maculata — ID 55946 Symbol Key NEMA Common Name fivespot Family Hydrophyllaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Native to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution CA, OR, UT Growth Habit Forb/herb Duration …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Nemophila maculata — noun California annual having white flowers with a deep purple blotch on each petal • Syn: ↑five spot • Hypernyms: ↑nemophila …   Useful english dictionary

  • Nemophila maculata Benth. ex Lindl. — Symbol NEMA Common Name fivespot Botanical Family Hydrophyllaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Nemophila — baby blue eyes Nemophila menziesii Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • Nemophila parviflora — var. parviflora Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae …   Wikipedia

  • Nemophila —   Nemophila …   Wikipedia Español

  • nemophila — noun any plant of the genus Nemophila • Hypernyms: ↑herb, ↑herbaceous plant • Hyponyms: ↑five spot, ↑Nemophila maculata • Member Holonyms: ↑genus Nemophila …   Useful english dictionary

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