Eriastrum rosamondense

Rosamond woolly-star, rosamond eriastrum

Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Rosamond woolly-star is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in western Mojave Desert near Rosamond Dry Lake area in flat alkali plains and alkaline scrub at elevations of 700 to 730 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white to pale blue flowers in small heads with delicate, sometimes translucent petals. Growing with erect stems 2 to 11 centimeters tall that are lightly woolly and occasionally branched, it forms compact clusters in hardpacked sandy cryptogamic soil. Its narrow leaves range from 4 to 13 millimeters long, primarily entire with occasional upper leaves showing 3-lobed variation, spreading in a sparse, delicate arrangement. The immature fruit develops with a distinctive reddish tip, containing 1 to 4 small tan seeds per chamber.

Habitat: Flat alkali plains, especially hard-packed sandy cryptogamic soil among low hummocks with dry pools, alkaline scrub

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 700-730 m

Bioregions: w DMoj (Rosamond Dry Lake area).

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