Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii
Abrams' oxytheca, Abrams' oxytheca, Abrams' oxytheca
Photo: parent species Acanthoscyphus parishii · (c) velodrome, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii (Abrams' oxytheca) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.
Abrams' oxytheca is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southern San Rafael Mountains and Topatopa Mountains in sandy habitats at elevations of 1,700 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate flowers with distinctive dark red awns in intricate involucral clusters. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops compact, branching growth with an open, airy structure. Its leaves are relatively small, ranging 1 to 3 centimeters long, with delicate, sparse branching. The plant's most distinctive feature is its involucral awns, which are 7 to 16 in number and 3 to 4 millimeters long, creating a striking dark red fringe around its reproductive structures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric varieties; key differentiator is dark red vs ivory involucre awns
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand
Elevation: 1700-2000 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Ventura
Bloom period
Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Eriogonum: Acanthoscyphus has many-awned involucres (7-30+); Eriogonum has awnless involucres.; vs Sidotheca: Acanthoscyphus has entire petals and 7-30+ awns; Sidotheca has fringed petals and 5-6 awns.; vs Oxytheca: Acanthoscyphus has 7-30+ awns per involucre; Oxytheca has only 3-5 awns.
Frequently asked questions
Is Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii native to California?
Yes. Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii bloom?
Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii grow?
Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii occurs in Santa Barbara, Ventura, at elevations of 1700-2000 m.
What plant family does Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii belong to?
Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Acanthoscyphus.
Is Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii rare or endangered?
Acanthoscyphus parishii var. abramsii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.