Hulsea mexicana

Mexican hulsea, Mexican Hulsea

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Mexican hulsea is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native annual found in southeastern San Diego County in burned or disturbed sites at elevations around 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces bright yellow ray flowers with broader rays 3 to 5 millimeters wide, arranged in small clusters of 3 to 5 flower heads. Growing up to 1 meter tall with soft, glandular and hairy stems, the plant develops progressively smaller leaves along its height. Its basal leaves are 5 to 15 centimeters long with coarse teeth, becoming smaller and less pronounced toward the stem's upper portions. The plant's flower heads are hemispheric, measuring 15 to 27 millimeters in diameter with lance-linear phyllaries that are narrowly pointed at the tips.

Habitat: Burns, disturbed sites

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 1200 m

Bioregions: se PR (se San Diego Co.)

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