Ericameria ophitidis

Serpentine goldenbush

Family: Asteraceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

Serpentine goldenbush is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native shrub found in southern Klamath Ranges and northern North Coast Ranges in open conifer forest, typically on serpentine soils at approximately 1,600 meters elevation. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces yellow flowers in small discoid heads clustered with leaf-like bracts. Growing as a compact shrub 10 to 30 centimeters tall with nearly glabrous, resinous stems, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves are narrow and linear, 5 to 15 millimeters long, recurved with abrupt pointed tips, and marked with glandular dots. The plant bears cylindrical flower heads with approximately 25 graduated phyllary series, creating a complex and intricate floral structure.

Habitat: Open conifer forest, generally on serpentine

Bloom period: Jul-Aug

Elevation: +- 1600 m.

Bioregions: s KR/n NCoRH.

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