Amsinckia tessellata
Bristly fiddleneck
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Amsinckia tessellata (Bristly fiddleneck) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by Calyx reduced to 2–4 fused, tip-notched lobes; 20-veined corolla tube; large gray cobblestone nutlets.
Bristly fiddleneck is a California native annual herb found in dry grasslands and disturbed areas across multiple California bioregions. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces vibrant yellow to orange flowers 8 to 16 millimeters long with distinctive funnel-shaped corollas. Growing with slender, bristly stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it has an upright and somewhat branching habit. Its narrow leaves are lance-shaped, alternating along the stem and covered in stiff, bristly hairs that give the plant its common name. The small fruits are textured like miniature cobblestones, with a gray surface that is dull and round-tubercled.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Calyx reduced to 2–4 fused, tip-notched lobes; 20-veined corolla tube; large gray cobblestone nutlets
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, San Diego, Riverside, Mono, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, San Benito, Monterey, Ventura, Stanislaus, Contra Costa, Imperial, Lassen, Merced, Modoc, San Joaquin, Tehama, Siskiyou, Madera, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Tulare
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 tessellata native to California?
Yes. Amsinckia tessellata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Amsinckia tessellata grow?
Amsinckia tessellata occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, San Diego, Riverside, Mono, San Luis Obispo and other counties.
What plant family does Amsinckia tessellata belong to?
Amsinckia tessellata is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Amsinckia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Amsinckia tessellata var. gloriosa — Carrizo fiddleneck
- Amsinckia tessellata var. tessellata — Desert fiddleneck
- Amsinckia vernicosa — Waxy fiddleneck
- Amsinckia douglasiana — Douglas's fiddleneck
- Amsinckia eastwoodiae — Eastwood's fiddleneck
- Amsinckia furcata — Forked fiddleneck
- Amsinckiopsis kingii — Great basin popcornflower
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.