Leptosiphon chrysanthus
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Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Leptosiphon chrysanthus is a native California annual in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by desert habitat, hairy ring inside and outside tube, long stigmas.
Yellow-flowered linanthus is a California native annual found in varied habitats with delicate, thread-like characteristics. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with funnel-shaped corollas and oblanceolate lobes 5 to 7 millimeters long. Growing with extremely slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it has a delicate, almost ethereal appearance. Its leaves feature linear lobes 3 to 6 millimeters long, divided into fine, thread-like segments. Each flower emerges on a thin peduncle 5 to 15 millimeters long, with a distinctive hairy ring inside and outside the corolla tube.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; desert habitat, hairy ring inside and outside tube, long stigmas
How to tell it apart
vs Linanthus: Leptosiphon flowers open in daytime on stalks >2mm; Linanthus flowers often open at dusk/night on very short stalks.; vs Phlox: Leptosiphon leaves are deeply divided into fingers; Phlox leaves are completely undivided.; vs Navarretia: Leptosiphon has soft, flexible leaf lobes; Navarretia has rigid, spine-tipped leaf lobes and bracts.; vs Gilia: Leptosiphon has opposite palmately-lobed leaves; Gilia has alternate pinnately-lobed leaves.; vs Sabulina: Leptosiphon has tubular 5-petaled flowers and lobed leaves; Sabulina has 5 separate petals and needle-like leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leptosiphon chrysanthus native to California?
Yes. Leptosiphon chrysanthus is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Leptosiphon chrysanthus belong to?
Leptosiphon chrysanthus is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Leptosiphon.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.