Nama lobbii


Nama lobbii, synonym Eriodictyon lobbii, is a species of flowering plant in the family Namaceae, known by the common names Lobb's fiddleleaf and matted yerba santa. It is native to the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range chain in California and adjacent sections of Nevada and Oregon. It grows in high mountain habitat in dry areas on slopes and ridges.

Description

Nama lobbii is a rhizomatous perennial herb forming dense mats of glandular hairy to woolly herbage usually spreading more than a meter wide. The sticky, hairy oval leaves are up to six centimeters long, occurring alternately along the branching stems and in clusters at stem forks. The funnel-shaped flowers are just under a centimeter wide with five rounded lobes. They are deep pink to purple in color. The plant sends out wide root networks which can grow up to five meters in length per year and sprout new plants.

Taxonomy

This taxon has been variously treated as Nama lobbii, Conanthus lobbii, and Marilaunidium lobbii. The current treatment of Jepson eFlora regards this plant as Eriodictyon lobbii, based on molecular data provided on the Hydrophylloideae., World Flora Online places the genus Nama in the family Namaceae.

Uses

The plant Nama lobbii has been recommended for use as groundcover in revegetation projects in its native mountain ranges.