Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca
White-bracted spineflower, White-Bracted Spineflower
Photo: parent species Chorizanthe xanti · (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca (White-bracted spineflower) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.
White-bracted spineflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in eastern San Bernardino and northern San Jacinto Mountains in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 60 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white flowers in densely hairy involucres. Growing with slender stems rising 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms delicate branching clusters. Its leaves are small and narrow, typical of spineflowers in the dry desert landscapes. The plant's white bracts and fine, hairy structures help it stand out in its sparse, rocky mountain environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; key differentiator is densely hairy involucre vs. thinly hairy in var. xanti
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand or gravel
Elevation: (60)400-1300 m
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego
Bloom period
Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Eriogonum: Chorizanthe has 1 flower per involucre; Eriogonum has multiple flowers per involucre.; vs Eremothera: Chorizanthe has 6-parted flowers in spiny cups; Eremothera has 4-petaled evening-primrose flowers.; vs Calyptridium: Chorizanthe has flowers in awned involucres; Calyptridium has naked flowers with papery sepals.; vs Lastarriaea: Chorizanthe has thin papery flowers; Lastarriaea has distinctly thick, leathery-textured flowers.; vs Navarretia: Chorizanthe is in Polygonaceae with 6-parted flowers; Navarretia is in Polemoniaceae with 5-lobed tubular flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca native to California?
Yes. Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca bloom?
Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca grow?
Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, at elevations of (60)400-1300 m.
What plant family does Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca belong to?
Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Chorizanthe.
Is Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca rare or endangered?
Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti — Pinyon spineflower
- Chorizanthe angustifolia — Narrow-leaf spineflower
- Chorizanthe aphanantha — Irish hills spineflower
- Chorizanthe biloba — Two lobed spineflower
- Chorizanthe biloba var. biloba — Two-lobe spineflower
- Chorizanthe biloba var. immemora — Hernandez spineflower
- Dedeckera eurekensis — July gold
- Dedeckera sp.
- Dodecahema leptoceras — Slender-horned spineflower
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.