Lasthenia ferrisiae
Ferris' goldfields, Ferris' Goldfields
(c) Konshau Duman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Lasthenia ferrisiae (Ferris' goldfields) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by fleshy leaves and papillate fruits without pappus.
Ferris' goldfields is a native annual herb found in the Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley in vernal pools and wet saline flats at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in small heads with ray flowers 6 to 10 millimeters long. Growing to 40 centimeters tall with erect stems that are simple or branched and either glabrous or slightly hairy, it has fleshy linear leaves 1 to 8 centimeters long. Its distinctive involucre is 5 to 10 millimeters wide with 6 to 14 phyllaries that are fused more than two-thirds of their length and hairy at the tips. The fruit is small, 2 to 2.5 millimeters long, club-shaped, and turns black when mature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; fleshy leaves and papillate fruits without pappus
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools or wet saline flats
Elevation: < 700 m
Bloom period
Lasthenia ferrisiae blooms Feb-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Monolopia: Monolopia has alternate leaves; Lasthenia has opposite leaves throughout most of stem.; vs Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum is woolly-hairy; Lasthenia is smooth or only slightly hairy.; vs Ranunculus: Ranunculus has separate shiny petals and divided basal leaves; Lasthenia has composite flower heads.; vs Pseudobahia: Pseudobahia leaves are alternate above; Lasthenia leaves remain opposite throughout.; vs Blennosperma: Blennosperma has phyllaries fused into a cup; Lasthenia has separate overlapping phyllaries.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lasthenia ferrisiae native to California?
Yes. Lasthenia ferrisiae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lasthenia ferrisiae bloom?
Lasthenia ferrisiae blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Lasthenia ferrisiae belong to?
Lasthenia ferrisiae is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lasthenia.
Is Lasthenia ferrisiae rare or endangered?
Lasthenia ferrisiae carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Lasthenia ferrisiae grow in?
Lasthenia ferrisiae grows in Vernal pools or wet saline flats.
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.