Lasthenia minor
Coastal goldfields
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lasthenia minor (Coastal goldfields) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by woolly pubescence and yellow alkali reaction distinctive.
Coastal goldfields is a California native annual found in northern coastal, Sierra Nevada foothills, southern Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, central coast, and southern coastal ranges in grassland habitats at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces bright yellow ray flowers 4 to 8 millimeters long with golden disk centers. Growing with erect stems up to 35 centimeters tall, it can be simple or extensively branched and is covered in sparse to dense woolly hairs. Its leaves are linear, 2 to 12 centimeters long, ranging from entirely smooth to irregularly toothed or lobed with small lobes less than 1.5 centimeters. The distinctive fruit is less than 2.6 millimeters long, narrowly club-shaped, and may be black with brown or white tapered awns.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; woolly pubescence and yellow alkali reaction distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland
Elevation: < 700 m
Bloom period
Lasthenia minor blooms Mar-Jun.
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 minor native to California?
Yes. Lasthenia minor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lasthenia minor bloom?
Lasthenia minor blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Lasthenia minor belong to?
Lasthenia minor is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lasthenia.
What habitat does Lasthenia minor grow in?
Lasthenia minor grows in Grassland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lasthenia platycarpha — Alkali goldfields
- Lasthenia sp. — Goldfields
- Lasthenia burkei — Burke's goldfields
- Lasthenia californica — California goldfields
- Lasthenia californica subsp. bakeri — Baker's goldfields
- Lasthenia californica subsp. californica — California goldfields
- Layia carnosa — Beach layia
- Layia chrysanthemoides — Smooth tidy tips
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.