Horkelia cuneata var. puberula
Mesa horkelia
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Don Loarie · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Horkelia cuneata var. puberula (Mesa horkelia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by sparse glandular hairs and long individual flower stalks.
Mesa horkelia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern Coastal Ranges, coastal southern California, and Peninsular Ranges, especially on the foothill edge of the Los Angeles Basin, in dry, sandy coastal chaparral at elevations of 70 to 870 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces white flowers in open, delicate clusters with individual flower stems 5 to 30 millimeters long. Growing with sparse, mostly glandular hairs and slender stems, it forms a low, spreading habit characteristic of coastal chaparral environments. Its leaves are compound with small leaflets, typical of the Horkelia genus, creating a fine-textured, delicate green foliage. The flower's hypanthium features an inner rim that is nearly glabrous, with stamens having distinctive filament bases 0.5 to 2 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; key features are sparse glandular hairs and long individual flower stalks
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, sandy, coastal chaparral
Elevation: 70-870 m
California counties: Orange, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Ventura, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Diego
Bloom period
Horkelia cuneata var. puberula blooms Mar-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Drymocallis: Horkelia has exactly 10 stamens and white-pink flowers; Drymocallis has 20+ stamens and yellow-white flowers.; vs Erodium: Horkelia has pinnate leaves and rose-family flowers; Erodium has lobed/divided leaves and long-beaked fruits.; vs Phacelia: Horkelia has rose-family flowers with separate petals; Phacelia has bell-shaped fused corollas with protruding stamens.; vs Potentilla: Horkelia has exactly 10 stamens and flattened filaments; Potentilla has 20+ stamens and thread-like filaments.; vs Ivesia: Horkelia has flat leaves with 2-15 separated leaflets; Ivesia has cylindrical bottlebrush leaves with overlapping leaflets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Horkelia cuneata var. puberula native to California?
Yes. Horkelia cuneata var. puberula is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Horkelia cuneata var. puberula bloom?
Horkelia cuneata var. puberula blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Horkelia cuneata var. puberula grow?
Horkelia cuneata var. puberula occurs in Orange, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Ventura, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and other counties, at elevations of 70-870 m.
What plant family does Horkelia cuneata var. puberula belong to?
Horkelia cuneata var. puberula is in the Rosaceae family, genus Horkelia.
Is Horkelia cuneata var. puberula rare or endangered?
Horkelia cuneata var. puberula carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.