Euphrosyne acerosa
Copperwort, Copperwort
(c) Zach Earl, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Euphrosyne acerosa (Copperwort) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by Mojave Desert habitat and low elevation range.
Copperwort is a California native annual found in northern Mojave Desert regions on wet or seasonally wet, alkaline soils at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces delicate white or pale yellow flowers in small, tight clusters with heads approximately 4 to 5 millimeters wide. Growing with slender, +- green stems that reach 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops distinctive pinnately lobed leaves with 3 to 7 linear to thread-like segments. Its leaves are generally 1 to 1.5 millimeters wide, silky-hairy, and have a somewhat thick texture that gives the plant a distinctive silvery-green appearance. The fruit is plump and smooth, measuring 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with 0 sympatric species. Distinguished by Mojave Desert habitat and low elevation range.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet or seasonally wet, alkaline soils
Elevation: < 700 m
Outside California: to Colorado, New Mexico
Bloom period
Euphrosyne acerosa blooms Jun-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
Frequently asked questions
Is Euphrosyne acerosa native to California?
Yes. Euphrosyne acerosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Euphrosyne acerosa bloom?
Euphrosyne acerosa blooms Jun-Oct.
What plant family does Euphrosyne acerosa belong to?
Euphrosyne acerosa is in the Asteraceae family, genus Euphrosyne.
Is Euphrosyne acerosa rare or endangered?
Euphrosyne acerosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Euphrosyne acerosa grow in?
Euphrosyne acerosa grows in Wet or seasonally wet, alkaline soils.
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.