About Calycanthus occidentalis Hook. & Arn.
Calycanthus occidentalis Hook. & Arn. is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 4 meters (13 feet) tall. Its leaves are arranged oppositely, reaching around 5 to 15 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) long and 2 to 8 centimeters (0.8 to 3.1 inches) wide. The leaves are roughly ovate in shape, with pointed tips and rounded bases. Flowers bloom from late spring to early fall. This species does not produce distinct sepals and petals; instead, its flowers have swirling dark red to burgundy petal-like structures called tepals, which measure 2 to 6 centimeters (0.8 to 2.4 inches) long and 0.5 to 1 centimeter (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. Open flowers are typically around 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide, and may occasionally reach 8 centimeters (3.1 inches) wide. According to Munz and Keck, tepals can grow up to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long, which can produce an open flower up to 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) wide. The tepals surround roughly 10 to 15 stamens. Flowers of Calycanthus occidentalis are pollinated by beetles in the Nitidulidae family. This shrub is endemic to California, where it occurs across much of the state, ranging north to the Klamath Mountains and south to the San Joaquin Valley. Past records of the species from Washington are specimens from plants that escaped cultivation, and do not represent naturally occurring populations. It grows along streams and on moist canyon slopes at elevations between 200 and 1,600 meters (700 to 5,200 feet).
