BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Fremontodendron californicum | Flannelbush 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Flannelbush is a native, evergreen, erect to decumbent shrub or tree.
It reaches 3.3 to 13.1 feet (1-4 m) tall as a shrub.  As a tree, it may
grow to 30 feet (9 m) tall and 13.8 inches (35 cm) in diameter
[10,23,26,30, 38,40].  It has a broad, open crown and a short trunk with
deeply fissured bark.  The thick leaves are simple with 3 to 5 lobes and
are 1 to 1.4 inches (2.5-3.5 cm) long [10,40].  Leaves usually remain
for 2 years; however, during wetter than normal springs, flannelbush
produces larger leaves that are shed in late summer [3].  The flowers
are 1 to 1.5 inches (0.4 to 1.8 cm) long [26,37].  Flowers are solitary
in twig axils and numerous throughout the plant [26,30].  The fruit is a
very hairy capsule 0.63 to 1.5 inches (1.6-3.9 cm) long and contains
numerous seeds [26,34,37].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte
   Chamaephyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Flannelbush reproduces sexually and asexually.  Flannelbush blooms the
second year after germination [34].  It is usually an abundant seed
producer [10].  Germination levels during laboratory trials were very
low (3 to 10 percent) [24]. 

Seeds have an elaiosome [24].  Although seeds are thrown from the
capsule by wind or other disturbances, ants are probably the main
dispersal agents [34,43].

Flannelbush sprouts vigorously from the lignotuber following removal of
top growth [17,26,43].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Flannelbush grows in mediterranean climates [3].  Over its range,
flannelbush is found on all aspects in foothills and low elevation
mountains [51,42].  In California and northern Mexico, flannelbush often
occurs on granitic slopes from 3,000 to 6,000 feet (900-1,800 m)
[9,15,40,32].

Kruckeberg [28] classified flannelbush as an indicator species for
serpentine soils in California; however, it also occurs on soils derived
from other parent materials [43].  Flannelbush is found on a variety of
soil textures that range from gravelly loams to clays.  It may occur on
soils that are shallow or deep and rich [1,43].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Facultative Seral Species

Flannelbush is a minor component of climax chaparral.  It is primarily
found in seral communites of woodland-grass chaparral [4,5].
Occasionally, it occurs in seral forest chaparral.  Flannelbush grows in
open to very dense chaparral stands; light does not appear to be a
limiting factor in establishment.


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Flannelbush blooms between April and July throughout its range
[9,10,30,34].  Fruits mature during August or September [34].  Seeds
disperse during summer and fall [24,34].

Related categories for Species: Fremontodendron californicum | Flannelbush