Chorizanthe polygonoides var. longispina

Long-spined spineflower, Long-Spined Spineflower

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Long-spined spineflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Peninsular Ranges in sandy habitats at elevations of 30 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces distinctive reddish flowers with prominent spiny involucre lobes. Growing with slender stems generally reddish in color, it forms delicate, low-growing clusters. Its leaves are small and sparse, typical of plants adapted to sandy, arid environments. The plant's involucre tube measures 1.5 to 2 millimeters long, with distinctive awns extending 2 to 3 millimeters from its lobes.

Habitat: Sand

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: 30-1500 m

Bioregions: PR

California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Orange, Santa Barbara, Lake

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