Eriastrum hooveri
Hoover's woolly-star
(c) Zack Abbey, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Zack Abbey · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2 · Delisted
Eriastrum hooveri (Hoover's woolly-star) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by very small flowers with white/translucent lobes and included stamens.
Hoover's woolly-star is a native annual herb found in southern San Joaquin Valley, southwestern Tehachapi Mountains, and western Transverse Ranges in open alkali sinks, plains, and floodplains at elevations of 45 to 810 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces delicate white to cream flowers in small clusters, with blossoms 4 to 6 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 2 to 15 centimeters tall, it branches from the base and can have lateral branches sometimes exceeding the primary stem. Its leaves are narrow and thread-like, 3 to 25 millimeters long, lightly woolly and occasionally with three lobes at the base. When wet, its seeds become slimy and are tan to light brown, often with angular shapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; very small flowers with white/translucent lobes and included stamens
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open swales or mounds in alkali sinks or plains, floodplains, flat benches above washes, in alkali or arid scrub, sometimes with biologic soil crust
Elevation: 45-810 m
California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kings
Bloom period
Eriastrum hooveri blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2 · Delisted
How to tell it apart
vs Navarretia: Eriastrum has fluffy white woolly hairs; Navarretia has spine-tipped bracts and leaves without woolly hairs.; vs Gilia: Eriastrum flower clusters are densely woolly-hairy; Gilia flower clusters lack woolly hairs.; vs Loeseliastrum: Eriastrum has woolly tufted hairs and radial flowers; Loeseliastrum has simple hairs and bilateral flowers.; vs Langloisia: Eriastrum has woolly tufted white hairs; Langloisia has stiff branched bristly hairs.; vs Petalonyx: Eriastrum has opposite lobed leaves in Polemoniaceae; Petalonyx has alternate simple leaves in Loasaceae.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eriastrum hooveri native to California?
Yes. Eriastrum hooveri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriastrum hooveri bloom?
Eriastrum hooveri blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Eriastrum hooveri grow?
Eriastrum hooveri occurs in Kern, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kings, at elevations of 45-810 m.
What plant family does Eriastrum hooveri belong to?
Eriastrum hooveri is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Eriastrum.
Is Eriastrum hooveri rare or endangered?
Eriastrum hooveri carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriastrum luteum — Yellow woolly-star
- Eriastrum pluriflorum — Many-flowered woolly-star
- Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux — White-throated woolly-star
- Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. pluriflorum — Many-flowered woolly-star
- Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. sherman-hoytae — Mrs. hoyt's woolly-star
- Eriastrum rosamondense — Rosamond woolly-star
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.