White Meadowfoam is a member of the meadowfoam family. The lower stems and leaves have long silky hairs. The outer sepals are also hairy. Note the distinctive venations (arrangements of veins) on the petals, which serve as nectar guides for pollinators.
There are no other species of large white flowers at Mather Field which could be confused with White Meadowfoam. Meadowfoam is not common in the Mather Field vernal pools and grassland.
Fun Facts:
This plant may save the whales because its seeds produce an oil which can be used to lubricate (make slippery with oil) machinery even under conditions of high heat and friction. Meadowfoam oil is very similar to whale oil, so commercially growing this plant may someday eliminate the need to kill these magnificent creatures for their fat.
Life Cycle:
White Meadowfoam is an annual plant, so it dies off every year. It germinates in wet areas soon after the rains begin in the fall. Its oily seeds float and, in particularly wet years, the plant can grow across vast areas. White Meadowfoam can bloom as early as March, often while its roots and leaves are still under water.
Ecology:
Meadowfoam is pollinated by solitary bees. The bees gather pollen and nectar to feed their offspring and, in so doing, pollinate the plant. Their large, oily seeds may be highly nutritious to some insects, birds and rodents.
