Heterotheca villosa var. scabra

Hairy false goldenaster

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Hairy false goldenaster is a California native perennial found in the southern western desert mountains, specifically the Little San Bernardino Mountains, in rock crevices at elevations of 1,200 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to May and again from October to November, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 5 to 6 millimeters long with 9 to 14 rays surrounding a dense central disk. Growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with erect stems that are sparsely scabrous and become increasingly glandular in fall growth, it has a distinctive appearance. Its mid-stem leaves are narrowly lance-triangular, somewhat bristly and sparsely covered with stiff hairs. The plant produces small fruits 2 to 3 millimeters long, contributing to its delicate structural character.

Habitat: Uncommon. Rock crevices

Bloom period: Apr-May, Oct--Nov

Elevation: 1200-1300 m

Bioregions: sw DMtns (Little San Bernardino Mtns)

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