Hooveria purpurea var. purpurea

Santa lucia purple amole, Santa Lucia Purple Amole

Family: Agavaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened

Santa lucia purple amole is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the eastern side of the Santa Lucia Range in Monterey County's northeastern section in open woodland at elevations around 300 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces purple flowers in an inflorescence 25 to 40 centimeters tall. Growing with slender stems emerging from an underground bulb, it develops graceful clusters of blooms. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, typical of the amole species, emerging from the base of the plant. The plant's distinctive chromosome count of 30 suggests a complex genetic heritage unique to this variety of purple amole.

Habitat: Open woodland

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: +- 300 m.

Bioregions: ne SCoRO (e side Santa Lucia Range, Monterey Co.).

California counties: Monterey, San Luis Obispo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.