Lessingia arachnoidea
Crystal springs lessingia, Crystal Springs Lessingia
(c) Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Lessingia arachnoidea (Crystal springs lessingia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by serpentine habitat and cobwebby flower heads are distinctive.
Crystal springs lessingia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the San Francisco Bay Area near Crystal Springs Reservoir and Camp Meeker in serpentinite grasslands, coastal scrub, chaparral, and woodland at elevations of 40 to 300 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces delicate pink to lavender flowers with darker tube centers in small clusters with cobwebby involucres. Growing with erect stems 15 to 80 centimeters tall, it has ascending branches that are tan-colored and become glabrous or thinly hairy toward the tips. Its leaves transition from petioled basal leaves to small lanceolate cauline leaves 0.2 to 3.5 centimeters long, becoming reduced to awl-shaped bracts higher on the stem. The fruit is 2 to 3 millimeters long with a white or tan-white pappus that is generally shorter than the fruit.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 12 species; serpentine habitat and cobwebby flower heads are distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentinite soil in grassland, coastal scrub, chaparral, woodland
Elevation: 40-300 m
California counties: San Mateo, Sonoma
Bloom period
Lessingia arachnoidea blooms Jul-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Palafoxia: Lessingia fruits tiny (2-4mm); Palafoxia fruits massive (10-15mm) - check seed size first; vs Pectis: Pectis has opposite leaves with oil glands; Lessingia has alternate leaves without glands; vs Deinandra: Deinandra flower heads very gummy/sticky; Lessingia merely hairy or minutely glandular; vs Stephanomeria: Stephanomeria has milky sap and all ligulate flowers; Lessingia has clear sap and disk flowers; vs Epilobium: Epilobium has 4 petals in a cross pattern; Lessingia has typical composite flower heads
Frequently asked questions
Is Lessingia arachnoidea native to California?
Yes. Lessingia arachnoidea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lessingia arachnoidea bloom?
Lessingia arachnoidea blooms Jul-Oct.
Where in California does Lessingia arachnoidea grow?
Lessingia arachnoidea occurs in San Mateo, Sonoma, at elevations of 40-300 m.
What plant family does Lessingia arachnoidea belong to?
Lessingia arachnoidea is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lessingia.
Is Lessingia arachnoidea rare or endangered?
Lessingia arachnoidea carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lessingia germanorum — San francisco lessingia
- Lessingia glandulifera — Valley lessingia
- Lessingia glandulifera var. glandulifera — Sticky lessingia
- Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii — Peirson's lessingia
- Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa — Warner springs lessingia
- Lessingia hololeuca — Woolly-headed lessingia
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.