Lasthenia microglossa
Small-ray goldfields
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lasthenia microglossa (Small-ray goldfields) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by minute or absent rays with few ray flowers diagnostic.
Small-ray goldfields is a California native annual found in northern Coast Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada foothills, southern California valleys, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and eastern Mojave Desert in shaded woodland, chaparral, and desert scrub slopes at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers with dark red centers in small involucres up to 8.5 millimeters long. Growing with sprawling or erect stems less than 25 centimeters tall, it has a simple or much-branched habit with hairy stems. Its leaves are linear or awl-shaped, 1.5 to 8 centimeters long, hairy, and nearly entire. The fruit is less than 5 millimeters long, linear, hairy, and black with occasional lanceolate scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; minute or absent rays with few ray flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shaded slopes of woodland, chaparral, desert scrub
Elevation: < 1000 m
Bloom period
Lasthenia microglossa blooms Mar-May.
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 microglossa native to California?
Yes. Lasthenia microglossa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lasthenia microglossa bloom?
Lasthenia microglossa blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Lasthenia microglossa belong to?
Lasthenia microglossa is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lasthenia.
What habitat does Lasthenia microglossa grow in?
Lasthenia microglossa grows in Shaded slopes of woodland, chaparral, desert scrub.
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.