Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis

Cienega seca oxytheca, Cienega Seca oxytheca, Cienega Seca oxytheca

Acanthoscyphus parishii — parent species of Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis

Photo: parent species Acanthoscyphus parishii · (c) velodrome, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis (Cienega seca oxytheca) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.

Cienega seca oxytheca is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in eastern San Bernardino Mountains near Cienega Seca and Coon creeks in sandy habitats at elevations of 2,100 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate white flowers with distinctive involucre awns 4 to 5 millimeters long. Growing as a small plant 5 to 40 centimeters tall, it develops slender stems with sparse branching. Its leaves range from 1 to 3.5 centimeters long, with two distinctive bracts supporting the flower clusters. The plant's ivory-colored awns and compact sandy habitat make it a unique and specialized annual of high-elevation desert environments.

Identification and appearance

Key characters: 3 sympatric varieties; key differentiator is 7-10 involucre awns vs 13-30+ in var. parishii

Habitat and range

Habitat: Sand

Elevation: 2100-2500 m

California counties: San Bernardino

Bloom period

Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis blooms Jun-Sep.

Conservation status

CNPS 1B.3

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. cienegensis native to California?

Yes. Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis is native to California (recorded as native).

When does Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis bloom?

Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis blooms Jun-Sep.

Where in California does Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis grow?

Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis occurs in San Bernardino, at elevations of 2100-2500 m.

What plant family does Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis belong to?

Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Acanthoscyphus.

Is Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis rare or endangered?

Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.

Related species

Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.

All Acanthoscyphus species · All Polygonaceae

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.