Lasthenia leptalea
Salinas valley goldfields, Salinas Valley Goldfields
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Lasthenia leptalea (Salinas valley goldfields) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by small stature and awl-shaped anther tips distinctive.
Salinas valley goldfields is a California native annual herb found in the central coastal ranges of Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties in openings in woodland at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces yellow ray flowers with dark red centers in small, compact flower heads approximately 4 to 6 millimeters wide. Growing as a delicate, erect plant less than 15 centimeters tall, it has slender stems that are occasionally sinuous and simple or slightly branched. Its leaves are narrow and linear, 3 to 20 millimeters long, sparsely covered with fine hairs and growing directly along the stem. The tiny fruits are less than 2 millimeters long, narrowly club-shaped, and sparsely hairy with grayish coloration.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; small stature and awl-shaped anther tips distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in woodland
Elevation: < 500 m
Bloom period
Lasthenia leptalea blooms Feb-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 leptalea native to California?
Yes. Lasthenia leptalea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lasthenia leptalea bloom?
Lasthenia leptalea blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Lasthenia leptalea belong to?
Lasthenia leptalea is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lasthenia.
Is Lasthenia leptalea rare or endangered?
Lasthenia leptalea carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Lasthenia leptalea grow in?
Lasthenia leptalea grows in Openings in woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.