Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Ceanothus prostratus
prostrate ceanothus, Mahala mat
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in south-central Washington; south-central Washington to California, east to Idaho and western Nevada.

Habitat: Drier open woods, moderate to middle elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies, beetles

Description:
General:

Prostrate grayish-green shrub, forming mats 1-3 m. broad and 3-5 cm. tall.

Leaves:

Leaves opposite, persistent, thick and fleshy, oblong to obovate, 1-2.5 cm. long, 3-5 toothed above the middle, pubescent on the lower surface; stipules brownish, 2 mm. long.

Flowers:

Inflorescence of 10-30 flowers in tight, flat-topped clusters terminal on short lateral branches, the pedicels slender, 1.5-2.5 cm. long; calyx 5-lobed; petals 5, long-clawed, hooded, bluish to grayish-blue or nearly white; stamens 5, opposite the petals, separated from the pistil by a flat, lobed disk, which also embeds the ovary; style 1, stigmas 3.

Fruits:

Capsule 6-8 mm. long. separating into 3 carpels at maturity, these with divergent horns.

Accepted Name:
Ceanothus prostratus Benth.
Publication: Pl. Hartw. 302 [1849]. 1848.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
(none provided)
Infraspecies:
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Ceanothus prostratus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Ceanothus prostratus checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Ceanothus prostratus information.

E-Flora BC: Ceanothus prostratus atlas page.

CalPhotos: Ceanothus prostratus photos.

USDA Plants: Ceanothus prostratus information.

48 photographs:
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