Eryngium mathiasiae
Mathias' button-celery
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eryngium mathiasiae (Mathias' button-celery) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by bract spination distinguishes from E. alismifolium.
Mathias' button-celery is a California native perennial found in the High Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau in vernal pools, wet areas, and dry lakebeds at elevations of 970 to 1,510 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white flowers in spherical heads 8 to 12 millimeters wide arranged in compact cymes. Growing with stout, ascending to erect stems 30 to 40 centimeters tall that branch just above the basal rosette, it develops a distinctive growth pattern. Its leaves have a lanceolate to narrowly obovate blade 3 to 5.5 centimeters long, with sharp serrate or lobed edges, mounted on petioles 6 to 10 centimeters long. The fruit is an elliptic structure 2.5 to 3 millimeters long, covered in dense, unequal lanceolate scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; bract spination distinguishes from E. alismifolium
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, wet areas, dry lakebeds
Elevation: 970-1510 m
California counties: Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Lassen
Bloom period
Eryngium mathiasiae blooms Jun-Aug.
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 mathiasiae native to California?
Yes. Eryngium mathiasiae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eryngium mathiasiae bloom?
Eryngium mathiasiae blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Eryngium mathiasiae grow?
Eryngium mathiasiae occurs in Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Lassen, at elevations of 970-1510 m.
What plant family does Eryngium mathiasiae belong to?
Eryngium mathiasiae is in the Apiaceae family, genus Eryngium.
What habitat does Eryngium mathiasiae grow in?
Eryngium mathiasiae grows in Vernal pools, wet areas, dry lakebeds.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
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.