Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus
Rayless goldenhead
(c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus (Rayless goldenhead) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by unknown range limits confidence.
Rayless goldenhead is a California native shrub found in desert and interior mountain regions in dry, open habitats at elevations typically above 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to October, this distinctive plant produces yellow disk flowers in rounded clusters 8 to 16 millimeters wide, notably lacking ray flowers. Growing with much-branched ascending to erect stems that form a rounded, compact shape, it reaches approximately 30 to 60 centimeters tall. Its leaves are slender and narrow, generally linear to oblanceolate, measuring less than 1.5 centimeters long and typically no wider than 3 millimeters. The compact, spherical flower heads create a unique golden-yellow texture across its desert and interior mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; unknown range limits confidence
Frequently asked questions
Is Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus native to California?
Yes. Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus belong to?
Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Acamptopappus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.