Amsinckiopsis kingii var. kingii
Southern great basin popcornflower, Southern Great Basin Popcornflower
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Amsinckiopsis kingii var. kingii (Southern great basin popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by (var. harknessii); distinguished by erect growth form and elongating fruit inflorescences.
Southern great basin popcornflower is a California native annual herb found in the southern eastern Sierra Nevada and northern Mojave Desert in dry, open slopes, sagebrush scrub, saltbush scrub, and juniper woodland at elevations of 1,200 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white flowers in small clusters along increasingly elongated stems. Growing with erect stems at the plant's center and ascending stems at the sides, reaching 10 to 40 centimeters tall. Its leaves are narrow, less than 2 centimeters wide, with central stems growing taller than lateral branches. The central stem becomes particularly prominent as the plant matures, giving the popcornflower a distinctive architectural structure in its arid mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (var. harknessii); distinguished by erect growth form and elongating fruit inflorescences
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open slopes, sagebrush scrub, saltbush scrub, juniper woodland
Elevation: 1200-2300 m
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Amsinckiopsis kingii var. kingii blooms May-Jun.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amsinckiopsis kingii var. kingii native to California?
Yes. Amsinckiopsis kingii var. kingii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Amsinckiopsis kingii var. kingii bloom?
Amsinckiopsis kingii var. kingii blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Amsinckiopsis kingii var. kingii belong to?
Amsinckiopsis kingii var. kingii is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Amsinckiopsis.
What habitat does Amsinckiopsis kingii var. kingii grow in?
Amsinckiopsis kingii var. kingii grows in Dry, open slopes, sagebrush scrub, saltbush scrub, juniper woodland.
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.