Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri
Hoover's button-celery
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri (Hoover's button-celery) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by elevation restriction and style length diagnostic.
Hoover's button-celery is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in San Francisco Bay and south-central coastal ranges of San Luis Obispo County in vernal pools and seasonal wetlands at elevations below 50 meters. Flowering in July, this plant produces small white to pale green flowers in compact, spiny-margined heads with distinctive bristly bracts. Growing with stout, ascending to erect stems typically 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops a sturdy and compact growth form. Its leaves are typically divided into narrow, spiny-edged segments that create a dense, intricate texture around the plant's base. In vernal pool habitats, this diminutive button-celery forms clusters that emerge briefly during the wet season before disappearing as the ground dries.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; elevation restriction and style length diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, seasonal wetlands, occasionally alkaline
Elevation: < 50 m
California counties: Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Alameda
Bloom period
Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri blooms Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Navarretia: Eryngium has compact button-like heads; Navarretia has looser clusters with spine-tipped bracts radiating outward.; vs Dipsacus: Eryngium flower heads are round or cylindrical when young; teasel heads are elongated egg-shaped from the start.; vs Cirsium: Eryngium leaves are firm and waxy; thistle leaves are softer with white woolly undersides.; vs Plantago: Eryngium grows in wetlands with spiny bracts under each flower; plantain has ribbed leaves and lacks spiny bracts.; vs Sanicula: Eryngium has a single bract under each flower and a thistle-like appearance; Sanicula lacks individual bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri native to California?
Yes. Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri bloom?
Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri blooms Jul.
Where in California does Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri grow?
Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri occurs in Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Alameda, at elevations of < 50 m.
What plant family does Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri belong to?
Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri is in the Apiaceae family, genus Eryngium.
Is Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri rare or endangered?
Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.