Hesperolinon breweri

Brewer's western flax, Brewer's Western Flax

Family: Linaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Brewer's western flax is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges, northwestern San Joaquin Valley, and northeastern San Francisco Bay region, including Napa, Solano, Contra Costa counties and Mount Diablo area in chaparral and grassland habitats at elevations of 30 to 700 meters. Flowering from May to June, this delicate plant produces small yellow flowers 4 to 10 millimeters long with distinctive gland-toothed sepals. Growing 5 to 20 centimeters tall with an almost glabrous (nearly hairless) appearance, it has a slender and compact form. Its leaves are alternate and linear, creating a fine, sparse foliage structure. The plant features three distinct yellow styles and yellow anthers, giving it a subtle but charming appearance in its native grassland habitats.

Habitat: Chaparral or grassland, occasionally on serpentine

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: 30-700 m

Bioregions: s NCoRI (Napa, Solano cos.), nw SnJV, ne SnFrB (Mount Diablo, Contra Costa Co.).

California counties: Contra Costa, Napa, Solano, Alameda

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.