Chorizanthe howellii

Howell's spineflower

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2 · Endangered

Howell's spineflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in central Mendocino County coastal dunes at elevations below 20 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to rose-colored flowers with delicate, minutely toothed petals. Growing as a low, tufted plant spreading 1 to 5 meters in diameter with branches generally spreading or decumbent, it reaches 3 to 10 centimeters tall. Its leaves are predominantly basal, with spoon-shaped to widely obovate blades 1 to 3 centimeters long and 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters wide, creating a distinctive low-growing mound. The plant's dense, rounded flower clusters and hairy texture make it a unique feature of coastal dune environments.

Habitat: Coastal dunes

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: < 20 m

Bioregions: NCo (c Mendocino Co.).

California counties: Mendocino

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