Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus
Mountain chaparral lotus
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus (Mountain chaparral lotus) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by montane variety with largest leaflets.
Mountain chaparral lotus is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and northern and central Sierra Nevada in yellow-pine forests and moist river bottoms at elevations of 900 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces yellow flowers with delicate, elongated petals. Growing with slender stems 30 to 50 centimeters tall, it has a slightly hairy or smooth appearance. Its compound leaves feature leaflets generally 1.6 to 2.2 centimeters long, arranged with a fine, soft texture. The plant's adaptability to diverse forest and riverside habitats makes it a resilient member of California's native plant communities.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; montane variety with largest leaflets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Yellow-pine forest, moist river bottoms
Elevation: 900-1800 m
California counties: Plumas, Butte, Yuba, El Dorado, Shasta, San Diego
Bloom period
Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus blooms Apr-Jul.
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 grandiflorus var. macranthus native to California?
Yes. Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus bloom?
Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus grow?
Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus occurs in Plumas, Butte, Yuba, El Dorado, Shasta, San Diego, at elevations of 900-1800 m.
What plant family does Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus belong to?
Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Acmispon.
What habitat does Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus grow in?
Acmispon grandiflorus var. macranthus grows in Yellow-pine forest, moist river bottoms.
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.