Fimbristylis thermalis
Hot springs fimbristylis
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Hot springs fimbristylis is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the Tehachapi Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, White and Inyo Mountains, and eastern Mojave Desert in wet mineralized soils near hot springs and seepage meadows at elevations of 110 to 1,340 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces light brown or tan spikelets 10 to 12 millimeters long with delicate flower bracts. Growing with a robust rhizomatous habit, it develops erect stems 50 to 150 centimeters tall and approximately 1 millimeter in diameter. Its leaves are narrow, puberulent, and less than 4 millimeters wide, with sheaths often covered in fine hairs. The fruit is small, approximately 1.5 millimeters long, brown with prominent angles and fine surface pitting.
Habitat: Wet mineralized soils near hot springs and in seepage meadows
Bloom period: Jul-Sep
Elevation: 110-1340 m
Bioregions: SCoRO, SnGb, SnBr, W&I, DMoj
California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Mono
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.