Lasthenia platycarpha
Alkali goldfields
(c) Konshau Duman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lasthenia platycarpha (Alkali goldfields) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by alkali habitat, often lobed leaves, and obconic involucre.
Alkali goldfields is a California native annual found in the Great Valley and San Francisco Bay Area in alkali flats at elevations below 120 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces bright yellow ray flowers 7 to 8 millimeters long with distinctive yellow corollas when tested in alkali solution. Growing with erect stems up to 30 centimeters tall, it can be simple or branched from the base and varies from glabrous to slightly hairy. Its leaves range from 1 to 6 centimeters long, typically pinnately lobed and occasionally entire, with variable hairiness. The plant's small fruits are less than 3.5 millimeters long and accompanied by 4 to 6 white to yellowish lanceolate scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; alkali habitat, often lobed leaves, and obconic involucre
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkali flats
Elevation: < 120 m
Bloom period
Lasthenia platycarpha blooms Mar-Apr.
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 platycarpha native to California?
Yes. Lasthenia platycarpha is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lasthenia platycarpha bloom?
Lasthenia platycarpha blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Lasthenia platycarpha belong to?
Lasthenia platycarpha is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lasthenia.
What habitat does Lasthenia platycarpha grow in?
Lasthenia platycarpha grows in Alkali flats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Lasthenia californica subsp. macrantha — Perennial goldfields
- Layia carnosa — Beach layia
- Layia chrysanthemoides — Smooth tidy tips
- Layia discoidea — Rayless layia
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.