Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus
Santa cruz island bird's-foot trefoil, Santa Cruz Island bird's-foot trefoil, Santa Cruz Island bird's-foot trefoil
(c) John Game , some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus (Santa cruz island bird's-foot trefoil) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by Santa Cruz Island endemic.
Santa Cruz island bird's-foot trefoil is a California native perennial ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in the northern Channel Islands on Santa Cruz Island in rocky slopes and dry riverbeds at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces creamy white to yellow flowers in compact clusters less than one centimeter wide. Growing with ascending silky stems that are partially woody, it develops an open, loosely branching form reaching 15 to 30 centimeters tall. Its delicate leaves are not overlapping, with small leaflets arranged in the classic trefoil pattern typical of the bird's-foot trefoil genus. The plant's distinctive silvery-silky texture and compact flower clusters make it a unique endemic to Santa Cruz Island.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; Santa Cruz Island endemic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, dry riverbeds
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Los Angeles
Bloom period
Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Lotus: Same genus - Lotus is an older name for Acmispon, now considered synonymous.; vs Ottleya: Acmispon has yellow pea-shaped flowers in umbels; Ottleya (a buckwheat relative) has tiny white/pink flowers without pea shape.; vs Eriogonum: Acmispon has compound leaves with 3 leaflets; buckwheats (Eriogonum) have simple leaves.; vs Genista: Acmispon leaves are compound with 3 leaflets; Genista (broom) has simple or very small trifoliate leaves on ridged green stems.; vs Hosackia: Acmispon has tiny gland-like stipules; Hosackia has conspicuous papery or leaf-like stipules at leaf bases.
Frequently asked questions
Is Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus native to California?
Yes. Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus bloom?
Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus grow?
Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus occurs in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus belong to?
Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Acmispon.
Is Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus rare or endangered?
Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
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.