Horkelia fusca var. pseudocapitata
Tawny horkelia
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Horkelia fusca var. pseudocapitata (Tawny horkelia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by large egg-shaped leaflets and large dense flower clusters.
Tawny horkelia is a California native perennial found in the Warner Mountains in dry meadow edges and open forest on volcanic or granitic soils at elevations of 1,800 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces pale flowers with petals 4 to 6 millimeters long in clustered heads with 10 to 30 blossoms. Growing with delicate stems that spread across the ground, it forms low-growing clusters up to 15 centimeters tall. Its compound leaves feature 4 to 7 leaflets on each side, with each leaflet approximately 10 to 20 millimeters long, broadly obovate and lightly toothed near the tips. The plant's sparse green foliage and subtle flowering structure make it a distinctive inhabitant of higher elevation volcanic landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are large egg-shaped leaflets and large dense flower clusters
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry meadow edges, open forest, volcanic or granitic soils
Elevation: 1800-2300 m
Outside California: to Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Horkelia fusca var. pseudocapitata blooms Jul-Aug.
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 fusca var. pseudocapitata native to California?
Yes. Horkelia fusca var. pseudocapitata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Horkelia fusca var. pseudocapitata bloom?
Horkelia fusca var. pseudocapitata blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Horkelia fusca var. pseudocapitata belong to?
Horkelia fusca var. pseudocapitata is in the Rosaceae family, genus Horkelia.
What habitat does Horkelia fusca var. pseudocapitata grow in?
Horkelia fusca var. pseudocapitata grows in dry meadow edges, open forest, volcanic or granitic soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
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.