ORANGE COUNTY ZOO
Photo courtesy of
Irvine Park Railroad
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The Orange County Zoo is
owned and operated by the
County
of Orange, California.
Web page produced by the
Orange County Zoological Society,
Copyright 2005.
Flannel Bush
Fremontia californica
The flannel bush is a spreading shrub with large, saucer-shaped, yellow-orange flowers. These 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 inch flowers bloom from May to June. The dark green leaves are about 3 inches long. The height ranges from 5-30 feet. The fine hairs that cover much of the plant can be a skin irritant.
Flannel bush occurs in much of California to central Arizona. It is found in dry slopes and pine forests. General John C. Fremont discovered this plant in 1846 during an expedition through the Sierra, hence its genus name.
The flannel bush is a member of the
Sterculia
family. Other members of the
Sterculia family include the Kola
tree, which has seeds rich in caffeine (cola), and Theobroma cacao, whose
fermented and roasted seeds are made into chocolate.
Native American Usage
The Native Americans would brew the bark of the flannel bush to relieve
irritations of the throat.
