Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii
San diego button-celery, San Diego Button-Celery
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii (San diego button-celery) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by leaf division and geographic restriction key.
San diego button-celery is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern California coastal and Peninsular Ranges in vernal pools and marshes at elevations below 705 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white to pale blue flowers in compact heads 5 to 9 millimeters long with delicate spiny bracts. Growing with erect or spreading stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops a distinctive branching form with slender green stems. Its leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate, typically 3 to 5 centimeters long with pinnate lobing and occasionally sharp serrated edges. The tiny fruits are approximately 2 millimeters long with persistent styles nearly equal to the calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; leaf division and geographic restriction key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, marshes
Elevation: < 705 m
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Alameda
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
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. parishii native to California?
Yes. Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii bloom?
Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii grow?
Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii occurs in Riverside, San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Alameda, at elevations of < 705 m.
What plant family does Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii belong to?
Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii is in the Apiaceae family, genus Eryngium.
Is Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii rare or endangered?
Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii 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.