Helminthotheca sp.
Ox-tongue, Ox-Tongue
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Helminthotheca sp. (Ox-tongue) is a non-native California annual in the Asteraceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Sonchus: Helminthotheca is densely bristly overall; Sonchus may have spines but isn't uniformly bristly; vs Taraxacum: Helminthotheca has bristly leaves along stems; dandelion has smooth basal leaves only; vs Hypochaeris: Helminthotheca is bristly with two bract series; Hypochaeris is less bristly with overlapping bracts; vs Lactuca: Helminthotheca is densely bristly-hairy; Lactuca may be spiny but not covered in stiff bristles; vs Picris: Helminthotheca has distinctly wide outer bracts; Picris has more uniform narrow bracts
Frequently asked questions
Is Helminthotheca sp. native to California?
No. Helminthotheca sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Helminthotheca sp. belong to?
Helminthotheca sp. is in the Asteraceae family, genus Helminthotheca.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.