Hesperolinon tehamense

Tehama county western flax, Tehama County Western Flax

Family: Linaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Tehama county western flax is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in northern and central Coast Ranges of California, including Tehama and Glenn counties, in serpentine chaparral at elevations of 100 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces light or bright yellow flowers with reddish veins, 3.5 to 5.5 millimeters long with notched petals that are partially recurved. Growing 2 to 50 centimeters tall with a distinctly hairy appearance, it develops slender, alternate, nearly linear leaves. Its leaves are sparse and elongated, contributing to the plant's delicate and wispy structure. The flower's yellow stamens and styles create a subtle, intricate botanical display against the plant's fine, hair-covered stems.

Habitat: Serpentine, chaparral

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 100-1000 m

Bioregions: n&ampc NCoRI (Tehama, Glenn cos.), e NCoRH.

California counties: Glenn, Tehama

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