Amsinckia furcata
Forked fiddleneck, forked fiddleneck, forked fiddleneck
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Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Amsinckia furcata (Forked fiddleneck) is a native California annual in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by glaucous coating highly diagnostic.
Forked fiddleneck is a California native annual found in western San Joaquin Valley and southern coastal ranges, particularly in Kings County, on semi-barren, loose, shaly slopes at elevations of 50 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces orange flowers with distinctive dark spots, approximately 12 to 22 millimeters long, creating a striking visual display. Growing with glaucous stems that are glabrous to sparsely hairy and often tinged white to pink at the base, the plant reaches heights typical of annual wildflowers. Its leaves are glaucous with a bluish-green cast, contributing to the plant's subtle coloration. The fruit is a small, smooth, shiny gray ovate structure with a unique longitudinal slit-like groove that forks at its base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; glaucous coating highly diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Semi-barren, loose, shaly slopes
Elevation: 50-1000 m
California counties: San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Kings
Bloom period
Amsinckia furcata blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Phacelia: Amsinckia always has orange or yellow flowers; Phacelia flowers are blue, purple, or white.; vs Plantago: Amsinckia has coiled orange flower clusters; Plantago has dense spikes with tiny white-brown flowers.; vs Helminthotheca: Amsinckia has bristly stems but simple leaves; Helminthotheca leaves are prickly-bumpy textured.; vs Echium: Amsinckia flowers are orange-yellow; Echium flowers are blue-purple and distinctly lopsided.; vs Camissoniopsis: Amsinckia has coiled flower clusters; Camissoniopsis has 4-petaled evening primrose flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amsinckia furcata native to California?
Yes. Amsinckia furcata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Amsinckia furcata bloom?
Amsinckia furcata blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Amsinckia furcata grow?
Amsinckia furcata occurs in San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Kings, at elevations of 50-1000 m.
What plant family does Amsinckia furcata belong to?
Amsinckia furcata is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Amsinckia.
Is Amsinckia furcata rare or endangered?
Amsinckia furcata carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S4.
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 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.