Carlquistia muirii
Muir's tarplant
(c) Justin Paulin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Paulin · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Carlquistia muirii (Muir's tarplant) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Monotypic genus endemic to California granitic habitats, recently segregated from other tarplant genera.
Muir's tarplant is a rare California native perennial ranked 1B.3 by CNPS, found in southern Sierra Nevada and southern Coast Ranges of Monterey County in dry, open sites on granitic soils at elevations of 1,100 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces yellow flowers in discoid heads up to 10 millimeters in diameter, with 7 to 29 disk flowers. Growing from a woody rhizome with erect stems 7 to 54 centimeters tall that form a generally matted habit, it has a distinctive spreading growth pattern. Its leaves are simple and linear to lance-linear, 9 to 42 millimeters long and 2 to 4 millimeters wide, covered in coarse to soft hairs with glandular surfaces. The fruit is 4 to 7.5 millimeters long, black, with a white to brownish pappus of 9 to 17 awl-shaped scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Monotypic genus endemic to California granitic habitats, recently segregated from other tarplant genera
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open sites on granitic soils
Elevation: 1100-2500 m
California counties: Kern, Tulare, Monterey, Fresno
Bloom period
Carlquistia muirii blooms Jun-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Raillardella: Carlquistia has leaves along the stem; Raillardella keeps leaves in basal rosettes.; vs Arnica: Carlquistia has a single series of flower bracts; Arnica has two distinct layers.; vs Trichoptilium: Carlquistia is a mountain perennial on granite; Trichoptilium is a desert annual.; vs Palafoxia: Carlquistia has yellow rays and mountain habitat; Palafoxia has pink disk flowers in deserts.; vs Chaenactis: Carlquistia has obvious ray flowers; Chaenactis lacks rays with pincushion-like disk only.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carlquistia muirii native to California?
Yes. Carlquistia muirii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Carlquistia muirii bloom?
Carlquistia muirii blooms Jun-Oct.
Where in California does Carlquistia muirii grow?
Carlquistia muirii occurs in Kern, Tulare, Monterey, Fresno, at elevations of 1100-2500 m.
What plant family does Carlquistia muirii belong to?
Carlquistia muirii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Carlquistia.
Is Carlquistia muirii rare or endangered?
Carlquistia muirii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.