Acmispon glaber var. glaber
Deerweed
Photo: parent species Acmispon glaber · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Acmispon glaber var. glaber (Deerweed) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by typical form with equal keel and wings.
Deerweed is a California native shrub found in northern coastal, central coastal, San Francisco Bay, southern coastal, and Peninsular Ranges regions in chaparral, roadsides, and coastal sand habitats at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces yellow flowers with petals 7 to 12 millimeters long, with wing and keel petals of nearly equal length. Growing as a spreading or erect shrub 30 to 100 centimeters tall with slender, green branches that become woody with age. Its leaves are compound with small, narrow leaflets that are soft and green, typically arranged in clusters along the stem. When mature, the plant produces small, slender seed pods characteristic of the legume family.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 34 sympatric species; typical form with equal keel and wings
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, roadsides, coastal sands; common
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Kern, San Bernardino, Tulare, San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, Marin, Monterey, Fresno, Merced, Butte, Lake, Sutter, El Dorado, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Alameda, Amador, Napa, Santa Cruz
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Acmispon glaber var. glaber blooms Mar-Aug.
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 glaber var. glaber native to California?
Yes. Acmispon glaber var. glaber is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acmispon glaber var. glaber bloom?
Acmispon glaber var. glaber blooms Mar-Aug.
Where in California does Acmispon glaber var. glaber grow?
Acmispon glaber var. glaber occurs in Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Kern, San Bernardino, Tulare, San Diego, Orange and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Acmispon glaber var. glaber belong to?
Acmispon glaber var. glaber is in the Fabaceae family, genus Acmispon.
What habitat does Acmispon glaber var. glaber grow in?
Acmispon glaber var. glaber grows in Chaparral, roadsides, coastal sands; common.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.