Federally Endangered and Serpentine Endemics
Coyote Ceanothus, Ceanothus ferrisiae, a three to six foot tall evergreen shrub, is a relative of the blue-blossom ceanothus. You may have a blue blossom ceanothus in your garden. Coyote Ceanothus is found exclusively in Santa Clara County and solely in serpentine soils. Three of its four existing populations are within county parks. Pretty clusters of small, white flowers appear on the shrub from January through March.
Another serpentine endemic and Santa Clara County exclusive, is the Metcalf Canyon Jewel-flower, Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. albidus. Like all members of the Mustard Family, it has four petals and four sepals. The Jewelflower’s sepals are fused together in such a way they appear to form a Grecian urn.
The Metcalf Canyon Jewelflower has four diminutive, white petals with light brown or purplish veins emerging from the top of its pale green or white “urn”. Researchers are helping the Metcalf Canyon Jewelflower expand its range by moving seeds from one side of the 101 Freeway to the other side, that is; from Motorcycle Park to an currently unopened county park.
The Santa Clara Valley Dudleya, Dudleya abramsii ssp. setchellii, a small succulent, is found in rocky areas seemingly growing right out of the rock, placing its roots in tiny crevices. Its pale yellow petals are fused at their bases surrounded by whitish grey sepals.
