About Aphanisma blitoides Nutt. ex Moq.
Aphanisma is a monotypic genus, meaning it contains only one species: Aphanisma blitoides Nutt. ex Moq. This rare annual plant is commonly called San Diego coastalcreeper, or simply aphanisma. It is a beach-dwelling species native to the coastline of Baja California and Southern California, including the Channel Islands. It is a succulent plant adapted to saline conditions, growing in sand or coastal scrub right at the immediate coastline. It produces many thin, sprawling stems, a small number of reduced green leaves, and tiny flowers. Older stems of this plant are bright red. Aphanisma blitoides is growing increasingly rare because its coastal habitat is disappearing, and it has been extirpated from most of its original native range.
