Acanthomintha obovata subsp. cordata
Heart-leaved thornmint, Heart-Leaved Thornmint, heart-leaved thorn-mint
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: annual · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Heart-leaved thornmint is a native annual herb found in southern coastal ranges and western Transverse Ranges on grassy slopes, in oak woodlands, and chaparral at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces small white to lavender flowers with distinctive cordate-clasping bracts that are wider than long. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, the plant has sparse, short hairs and a delicate, spreading growth habit. Its leaves are typically ovate to heart-shaped, with fine serrations and a soft texture that blends into the surrounding grassland vegetation. The flower clusters feature anthers densely covered in woolly hairs, giving the plant a distinctive, soft-textured appearance.
Habitat: Grassy slopes, oak woodland, chaparral, vertic clay
Bloom period: Apr-Jul
Elevation: < 1600 m
Bioregions: SCoRO, w&c WTR.
California counties: Los Angeles, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Monterey
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.