Wayne's Word Index Noteworthy Plants Trivia Lemnaceae Biology 101 Botany Search Other Links:  Wildflower Index     Lichen Index     San Marcos Vernal Pools     Vernal Pools Spring 2010     San Marcos Mtns  Images taken with Nikon D-90 and 60 mm Micro-Nikkor AF-S F 2.8G ED Macro Lens with Phoenix Ring Flash © W.P. Armstrong 24 May 2010 San Diego Thornmint (Acanthomintha ilicifolia) The rare San Diego thornmint (Acanthomintha ilicifolia) is native to clay lenses on the north slopes of Emerald Heights in the City of Escondido. Geologically, this plateau is composed of gabbro rock and is a southern extension of the Merriam Range. Thornmint is an unusual member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) because it produces conspicuous spines on the floral bracts. It is included in the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants on list 1B.1 (rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere). It is listed by the state of California as Endangered (January 1982) and by the Federal Government as Threatened (October 13, 1998). View from Emerald Heights looking southwest toward Escondido. San Diego thornmint occurs in the clay lens clearing (white arrow) within the chamise chaparral. Lamiaceae: Acanthomintha ilicifolia (San Diego Thornmint) Other Plants Associated With Thornmint At Emerald Heights [A Long Page With Many Images: Very Slow To Load]   Other Plants With Thornmint   Return To WAYNE'S WORD Home Page Return To NOTEWORTHY PLANTS Page Go To Biology GEE WHIZ TRIVIA Page Go To The LEMNACEAE ON-LINE Page All text material & images on these pages copyright © W.P. Armstrong