Blennosperma nanum var. robustum

Point reyes blennosperma, Point Reyes Blennosperma

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Point reyes blennosperma is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in central coastal California, including the Fort Bragg area in Mendocino County and Point Reyes Peninsula in Marin County, in sandy bluffs and grassy places among shrubs at elevations of 10 to 120 meters. Flowering from January to April, this plant produces yellow flowers with numerous disk flowers, creating bright, compact clusters. Growing with delicate stems to 20 centimeters tall, it forms small, ground-hugging clusters characteristic of annual wildflowers. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, spreading from the base of the plant in a loose, open pattern. The fruit is small, measuring 3 to 4.5 millimeters long, with distinctive yellow pollen contributing to its delicate appearance.

Habitat: Sandy bluffs, grassy places among shrubs

Bloom period: Jan-Apr

Elevation: 10-120 m

Bioregions: c NCo (Fort Bragg, Mendocino Co.), n CCo (Point Reyes Peninsula, Marin Co.).

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.