Hulsea brevifolia

Shortleaved hulsea

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Shortleaved hulsea is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains in montane forest with gravelly soils at elevations of 1,500 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces bright yellow ray flowers with 10 to 23 rays, each 2 to 4 millimeters wide, in heads 10 to 16 millimeters across. Growing 30 to 60 centimeters tall with glandular-hairy stems that become slightly smaller toward the top, it develops a distinctive growth pattern. Its basal leaves are 5 to 6 centimeters long with coarse teeth, gradually transitioning to smaller cauline leaves up the stem. The fruit is 6 to 8 millimeters long with sparse hairs and unequal pappus scales tinged with red.

Habitat: Gravelly soils, montane forest

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: 1500-2700 m

Bioregions: c&amps SNH.

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