Crepis pulchra
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb
Crepis pulchra is a California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Key features: sticky bristly stems, flat-topped flower clusters, low elevation disturbed habitats.
Crepis pulchra is a naturalized annual herb found in disturbed, often grassy places, sometimes on serpentine soils, at low elevations from 20 to 200 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pale yellow flowers in flat-topped clusters with 10 to 40 heads. Growing with slender stems 15 to 50 centimeters tall that are sticky and glandular, particularly near the base, it has a delicate, spreading form. Its leaves are oblanceolate, ranging up to 24 centimeters long, with minutely toothed edges and sometimes recurved lobes, with lower leaves more deeply divided and upper leaves clasping the stem. The fruit is cylindrical, 4 to 6 millimeters long, with 10 to 12 distinct ribs and a slightly narrowed, beaked tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species - geographically isolated. Key features: sticky bristly stems, flat-topped flower clusters, low elevation disturbed habitats
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed, often grassy places, sometimes serpentine
Elevation: 20-200 m
Outside California: native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Crepis pulchra blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Hypochaeris: Hypochaeris has mostly leafless stems with tiny bracts; Crepis has well-developed leaves up the stem.; vs Taraxacum: Taraxacum has all leaves basal with leafless stems; Crepis has leaves ascending the branched stem.; vs Agoseris: Agoseris has leafless flower stems from basal rosettes; Crepis has leafy branched stems.; vs Sonchus: Sonchus has clasping stem leaves with spiny margins; Crepis leaves are typically not clasping or spiny.; vs Helminthotheca: Helminthotheca has bristly leaves and bracts; Crepis typically lacks the dense bristly covering.
Frequently asked questions
When does Crepis pulchra bloom?
Crepis pulchra blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Crepis pulchra belong to?
Crepis pulchra is in the Asteraceae family, genus Crepis.
What habitat does Crepis pulchra grow in?
Crepis pulchra grows in Disturbed, often grassy places, sometimes serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.