Acanthoscyphus parishii var. parishii

Parish's oxytheca, Parish's oxytheca, Parish's oxytheca

Acanthoscyphus parishii — parent species of Acanthoscyphus parishii var. parishii

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

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

Acanthoscyphus parishii var. parishii (Parish's oxytheca) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.

Parish's oxytheca is a rare (CNPS 4.2) California native annual found in the Transverse Ranges in sandy habitats at elevations of 1,900 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces delicate white flowers with distinctive ivory-colored awns in involucres. Growing 10 to 60 centimeters tall with an erect habit, it develops slender stems with finely divided branches. Its leaves range from 1 to 7 centimeters long, with intricate branching and involucral bracts featuring 13 to 30 awns measuring 4 to 5 millimeters in length. The plant's compact growth and specialized sand habitat make it a unique component of its high-elevation desert ecosystem.

Identification and appearance

Key characters: 4 sympatric varieties; key differentiator is high involucre awn count (10)13-30(36) vs fewer in other varieties

Habitat and range

Habitat: Sand

Elevation: 1900-2600 m

California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura

Bloom period

Acanthoscyphus parishii var. parishii blooms Jun-Oct.

Conservation status

CNPS 4.2

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. parishii native to California?

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

When does Acanthoscyphus parishii var. parishii bloom?

Acanthoscyphus parishii var. parishii blooms Jun-Oct.

Where in California does Acanthoscyphus parishii var. parishii grow?

Acanthoscyphus parishii var. parishii occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, at elevations of 1900-2600 m.

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

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

Is Acanthoscyphus parishii var. parishii rare or endangered?

Acanthoscyphus parishii var. parishii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3S4.

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.