Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux
White-throated woolly-star
Photo: parent species Eriastrum pluriflorum · (c) velodrome, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux (White-throated woolly-star) is a native California annual in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by white throat vs orange-yellow throat distinguishes from sherman-hoytae.
White-throated woolly-star is a California native annual found in desert scrub, plains, hillsides, and shallow washes at elevations of 800 to 1,440 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white to pale blue flowers with purple or white corollas and distinctive white to cream throats that are often pale-yellow spotted inside. Growing 3.5 to 24 centimeters tall with erect stems that are woolly when young and nearly woody at the base if persistent, the plant develops simple or branched growth. Its leaves are 6 to 30 millimeters long, lightly woolly, and feature 5 to 13 lateral lobes that give the plant a delicate, intricate appearance. The tiny capsule fruit measures just 2 to 3 millimeters long, with seeds approximately 1.2 to 2.0 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species - white throat vs orange-yellow throat distinguishes from sherman-hoytae
Habitat and range
Habitat: Plains, hillsides, shallow washes, disturbed areas, desert scrub
Elevation: 800-1440 m
Bloom period
Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux blooms Apr-Jun.
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 pluriflorum subsp. albifaux native to California?
Yes. Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux bloom?
Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux belong to?
Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Eriastrum.
What habitat does Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux grow in?
Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux grows in Plains, hillsides, shallow washes, disturbed areas, desert scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. pluriflorum — Many-flowered woolly-star
- Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. sherman-hoytae — Mrs. hoyt's woolly-star
- Eriastrum rosamondense — Rosamond woolly-star
- Eriastrum sapphirinum — Sapphire woolly-star
- Eriastrum sapphirinum subsp. ambiguum — Short-bract woolly-star
- Eriastrum sapphirinum subsp. dasyanthum — Shaggy woolly-star
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.