Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca

White-bracted spineflower, White-Bracted Spineflower

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

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.

Habitat: Sand or gravel

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: (60)400-1300 m

Bioregions: e SnBr, n SnJt.

California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego

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