Layia leucopappa
Comanche point layia, Comanche Point Layia
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Layia leucopappa (Comanche point layia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by straw-colored stems and glaucous leaves.
Comanche point layia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found on the western edge of the Tehachapi Mountains and southern San Joaquin Valley at elevations of 100 to 350 meters in grassy or open heavy soil. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces white ray flowers 3 to 12 millimeters long with yellow to brownish disk flowers in heads 4 to 10 millimeters wide. Growing 8 to 60 centimeters tall with straw-colored stems that are glandular and not strongly scented, it has a delicate, spreading form. Its leaves are oblong to oblanceolate, less than 5 centimeters long, slightly glaucous, with proximal leaves often partially lobed and scabrous-ciliate edges. The fruit features ray fruits that are sparsely hairy with a pappus of 10 to 13 white, lanceolate scales 2 to 3.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; straw-colored stems and glaucous leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy or open heavy soil
Elevation: 100-350 m
Bloom period
Layia leucopappa blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Madia: Layia has prominent feathery seed bristles 2-4mm; Madia has tiny or no seed bristles.; vs Glebionis: Layia has feathery white seed plumes; Glebionis has yellow-orange rays and no seed plumes.; vs Deinandra: Layia has fluffy feathery seed bristles; Deinandra has straight, non-feathery bristles.; vs Monoptilon: Layia has 2-4mm feathery bristles; Monoptilon has shorter non-feathery bristles.; vs Hemizonia: Layia has prominent feathery seed plumes; Hemizonia has short non-feathery bristles or scales.
Frequently asked questions
Is Layia leucopappa native to California?
Yes. Layia leucopappa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Layia leucopappa bloom?
Layia leucopappa blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Layia leucopappa belong to?
Layia leucopappa is in the Asteraceae family, genus Layia.
Is Layia leucopappa rare or endangered?
Layia leucopappa carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Layia leucopappa grow in?
Layia leucopappa grows in Grassy or open heavy soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.