Hymenoxys odorata
Bitter hymenoxys, Bitter Hymenoxys
(c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Hymenoxys odorata (Bitter hymenoxys) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by No sympatric species; geographically isolated in Sonoran Desert.
Bitter hymenoxys is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native annual found in eastern Colorado Desert regions in roadsides, open flats, and streambanks at elevations of 60 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from February to August, this plant produces yellow ray flowers with disk flowers in clustered heads 15 to 35 millimeters wide. Growing with slender stems 10 to 80 centimeters tall that are often purple-red tinted and branched throughout, the plant has a delicate, spreading form. Its leaves are typically 1 to 5 centimeters long, divided into 3 to 19 narrow linear lobes, with middle blades having 5 to 11 lobes and terminal lobes less than 1 millimeter wide. The fruit is small, 1.7 to 2.5 millimeters long, with 5 to 6 pappus scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: No sympatric species; geographically isolated in Sonoran Desert
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, open flats, drainage areas, streambanks and bottoms
Elevation: 60-1500 m
Outside California: to Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Hymenoxys odorata blooms Feb-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Helenium: Helenium has simple entire or toothed leaves; Hymenoxys has deeply dissected thread-like segments.; vs Hulsea: Hulsea has simple entire to shallowly toothed leaves; Hymenoxys has deeply divided linear segments.; vs Helianthella: Helianthella has broad simple leaves; Hymenoxys has finely dissected thread-like foliage.; vs Arnica: Arnica has paired opposite simple leaves; Hymenoxys has alternate dissected leaves.; vs Eatonella: Eatonella has simple spoon-shaped leaves; Hymenoxys has dissected linear segments.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hymenoxys odorata native to California?
Yes. Hymenoxys odorata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hymenoxys odorata bloom?
Hymenoxys odorata blooms Feb-Aug.
What plant family does Hymenoxys odorata belong to?
Hymenoxys odorata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Hymenoxys.
Is Hymenoxys odorata rare or endangered?
Hymenoxys odorata carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S2.
What habitat does Hymenoxys odorata grow in?
Hymenoxys odorata grows in Roadsides, open flats, drainage areas, streambanks and bottoms.
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.