Spicebush (Calycanthus occidentalis)
Aliases: Sweetbush, Western Sweetshrub
Family: Spicebush (Calycanthaceae)
Habitat: Wet areas in the foothills, peaking at about 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) elevation. You can find it in many places along Highway 140 in the Merced River Canyon.
Size: The flowers are big - up to four inches across - and so is the bush itself, which can reach more than 10 feet high.
Flowering Season: April - August
Lifespan: Perennial (shrub)
Origins: Native to California (see distribution maps for California and U.S./Canada)
Calycanthus occidentalis etymology: Calycanthus derives from the Greek word for calyx, the collection of sepals on a flower (sepals are specialized leaves that encase the flower during the bud stage).[1] Occidentalis comes from occidens, a Latin term meaning "region of the setting sun",[2] and means "of the west" in the botany world.[3]
This Photo: Along Highway 140 near the landslide detour, mid May
Other Resources: CalFlora · CalPhotos · USDA · eFloras.org
