Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Snowbrush Ceanothus
Ceanothus velutinus
Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae)

Snowbush provides important fall and winter browse for deer, moose, and elk. and seeds of the plant are eaten by small mammals and birds, and all types of wildlife use it for cover and areas to bed down. The leaves contain saponin and have been used to prevent dandruff, diaper rash, and eczema. "Ceanothus" is Greek for a now unknown spiny plant.


©2010 Matt Lavin

Description

Aromatic shrub, 1-4' tall. Leaves are dark green, shiny, and ; arranged, 3 prominent arising from leaf base. Twigs brown, becoming dark brown, more or less . White flowers arranged in dense showy clusters at ends of the branches. Flowers star-shaped, tiny with 5 white, slender, cupped petals and 5 triangular , which curve sharply between the petals over the flowers. are 3-, sticky blue-black . Plants produce a cinnamon or balsam-like odor.

Field Marks

Aromatic shrub with shiny, leaves.

© Al Schneider

An evergreen tree retains a large portion of its green leaves all year.

lobe -- Being divided by clefts.

ribbed -- having prominent, narrow parallel protrusions that extend over most of its length or circumference.

Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom.

capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

puberulent -- covered with minute soft erect hairs.

alternate -- leaves alternate along the main stem and are attached singly.