Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens

Monterey spineflower

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2 · Threatened

Monterey spineflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in central coastal California, including southern Santa Cruz and northern Monterey counties, in sandy habitats at elevations of 0 to 65 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white to pink-tinged flowers in delicate involucres with distinctive white-margined lobes. Growing prostrate to ascending with slender stems 5 to 15 centimeters tall, it forms low, spreading clusters across sandy terrain. Its leaves are relatively small and narrow, adapting to the sparse coastal sand environments. In its native habitat, this spineflower represents a delicate and specialized plant uniquely adapted to coastal sand dune ecosystems.

Habitat: Sand

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: 0-65 m

Bioregions: CCo (s Santa Cruz, n Monterey cos. extirpated San Luis Obispo Co.), SnFrB (s Santa Cruz Co.).

California counties: Monterey, Santa Cruz, Butte

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