Ceanothus sanguineus
Redstem Ceanothus

Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family)

Photo taken at Leavenworth Ski Hill, open wooded area, flowering in May

Flowers:

white; inflorescence panicle-like

Capsule:

crestless and smooth; about 4 mm, 3 lobed

Leaves:

Alternate; deciduous in winter; less than 10 cm; blade 3 ribed from base; not shiny or glutinous on the upper surface of the leaves, lower surface paler and generally hairy especially on veins; margin minutely gland toothed

Plant:

perennial; erect, less than 3 meters tall; twigs round, greenish, glabrous becoming brown. Traditionally the bark was dried, ground and used in treating burns by the Okanagan-Coville.

Habitat:

dry forest

Distribution of species:

both sides of the Cascades, British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and western Montana

Distribution of genus:

45 species: North America, especially western