Ivesia webberi
Webber's ivesia
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
Ivesia webberi (Webber's ivesia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by unique opposite stem leaves, single head-like flower cluster, yellow flowers.
Webber's ivesia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada and southern Modoc Plateau regions, specifically in Dog Valley, eastern Sierra County, and Sierra Valley, growing in rocky clay sagebrush flats at elevations of 1,500 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in small clusters 15 to 50 millimeters wide, with delicate oblanceolate petals. Growing with decumbent to ascending green stems 5 to 15 centimeters tall, it forms a distinctive rosette with a generally simple caudex. Its complex leaves feature 4 to 8 leaflets per side, with linear to lanceolate lobes 3 to 10 millimeters long, and have strigose sheathing bases. The small fruits are light brown with darker mottling, approximately 2.5 millimeters long and nearly smooth.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 13 species; unique opposite stem leaves, single head-like flower cluster, yellow flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky clay in sagebrush flats
Elevation: 1500-1900 m
California counties: Sierra, Lassen, Plumas
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Ivesia webberi blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
How to tell it apart
vs Achillea: Ivesia has rose-like flowers with separate petals; Achillea has composite flower heads with ray and disk flowers.; vs Potentilla: Ivesia has cylindrical bottlebrush leaves with 4-80 tiny leaflets per side; Potentilla has flat leaves with spread-out leaflets.; vs Horkelia: Ivesia has cylindrical leaves with overlapping leaflets; Horkelia has flat leaves with 2-15 distinct, separated leaflets.; vs Eremogone: Ivesia has compound bottlebrush leaves; Eremogone has simple, needle-like or thread-like leaves.; vs Cryptantha: Ivesia has rose-family flowers with separate petals; Cryptantha has fused tubular corollas typical of borages.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ivesia webberi native to California?
Yes. Ivesia webberi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ivesia webberi bloom?
Ivesia webberi blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Ivesia webberi grow?
Ivesia webberi occurs in Sierra, Lassen, Plumas, at elevations of 1500-1900 m.
What plant family does Ivesia webberi belong to?
Ivesia webberi is in the Rosaceae family, genus Ivesia.
Is Ivesia webberi rare or endangered?
Ivesia webberi carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ivesia aperta — Sierra valley mousetail
- Ivesia aperta var. aperta — Sierra valley ivesia
- Ivesia aperta var. canina — Dog valley ivesia
- Ivesia argyrocoma var. argyrocoma — Silver-haired ivesia
- Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica — Yellow purpusia
- Ivesia baileyi — Bailey's ivesia
- Luetkea pectinata — Partridge foot
- Luetkea sp.
- Lyonothamnus floribundus — Catalina ironwood
- Lyonothamnus floribundus subsp. aspleniifolius — Santa cruz island ironwood
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.