Lasthenia glaberrima
Smooth goldfields
(c) Konshau Duman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lasthenia glaberrima (Smooth goldfields) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by glabrous habit with reduced rays and 4-lobed disk corollas.
Smooth goldfields is a California native annual found in the North Coast Ranges, Sacramento Valley, northern San Joaquin Valley, Central Western California, and Modoc Plateau in vernal pools and wet areas at elevations up to 1,300 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces pale yellow flowers in small radiate heads with distinctive yellow corollas. Growing to 35 centimeters tall with sprawling or erect stems that are either simple or freely branched, it spreads across wet ground with delicate grace. Its leaves are linear, 3 to 10 centimeters long, entirely smooth and glabrous, extending from the plant's slender branches. The fruit is less than 4 millimeters long, nearly linear and slightly flattened, with a covering of fine gray hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; glabrous habit with reduced rays and 4-lobed disk corollas
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, wet areas
Elevation: 1300 m
Outside California: to southwestern British Columbia
Bloom period
Lasthenia glaberrima blooms Mar-Jul.
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 glaberrima native to California?
Yes. Lasthenia glaberrima is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lasthenia glaberrima bloom?
Lasthenia glaberrima blooms Mar-Jul.
What plant family does Lasthenia glaberrima belong to?
Lasthenia glaberrima is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lasthenia.
What habitat does Lasthenia glaberrima grow in?
Lasthenia glaberrima grows in Vernal pools, wet areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.