Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti
Pinyon spineflower, Pinyon Spineflower
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti (Pinyon spineflower) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.
Pinyon spineflower is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, southern Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands, northern and eastern Transverse Ranges, and southern Sierra Nevada east to Mono County in sandy and gravelly habitats at elevations of 300 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces small white to pale pink flowers in delicate, thinly hairy involucres. Growing with slender, branching stems typically 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms low, spreading clusters. Its leaves are narrow and sparse, with basal leaves often more prominent than stem leaves. The plant has distinctive chromosome counts of 19 or 21, contributing to its unique genetic profile in its native range.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; key differentiator is thinly hairy involucre and erect branched habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand, gravel
Elevation: (60)300-1600 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Inyo, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Merced, Monterey, Tulare, Riverside, San Benito
Bloom period
Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti blooms Apr-Jul.
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. xanti native to California?
Yes. Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti bloom?
Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti grow?
Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti occurs in Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Inyo, San Diego, Santa Barbara and other counties, at elevations of (60)300-1600 m.
What plant family does Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti belong to?
Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Chorizanthe.
What habitat does Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti grow in?
Chorizanthe xanti var. xanti grows in Common. Sand, gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Chorizanthe blakleyi — Blakley's spineflower
- Dedeckera eurekensis — July gold
- Dedeckera sp.
- Dodecahema leptoceras — Slender-horned spineflower
- Dodecahema sp.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.