Bloomeria humilis

Dwarf goldenstar

Family: Themidaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Dwarf goldenstar is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the central Coast Ranges, specifically in southern Monterey and northern San Luis Obispo counties, growing in grassland and chaparral edge habitats on open ocean bluffs at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering in June, this plant produces yellow flowers with subtle brown-purple midveins, each perianth lobe gradually spreading and 7 to 11 millimeters long. Growing with a slender scape 5 to 10 centimeters tall, the plant emerges from a small cluster of 1 to 2 leaves that range from 5 to 30 centimeters in length and 3 to 15 millimeters wide. Its leaves are narrow and grasslike, emerging from the base of the plant in a delicate arrangement. The flower's distinctive features include parallel filaments and a nectar cup, with anthers precisely 1.5 to 1.8 millimeters long.

Habitat: Grassland/chaparral edges, open mesas on ocean bluffs

Bloom period: Jun

Elevation: < 100 m

Bioregions: CCo, expected in adjacent c SCoR (s Monterey, n San Luis Obispo cos.).

California counties: San Luis Obispo

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