Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii
Peirson's lessingia
Photo: parent species Lessingia glandulifera · (c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii (Peirson's lessingia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by persistent tomentose habit is distinctive.
Peirson's lessingia is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada foothills and eastern Transverse Ranges in dry foothill and desert wash habitats at elevations of 300 to 1,850 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces small white to pale yellow flowers in clusters with distinctive glandular characteristics. Growing with delicate stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall that are sparsely hairy to densely woolly, it has a slender and somewhat fragile appearance. Its leaves are small, measuring 0.2 to 2 centimeters long, covered in a persistent woolly texture that gives the plant a soft, grayish-green appearance. In sandy soils along roadsides and desert washes, this annual herb creates ephemeral patches of subtle botanical interest.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 6 species; persistent tomentose habit is distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry foothills, desert washes, roadsides, generally in sandy soil
Elevation: 300-1850 m
California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, Mono, San Luis Obispo, Inyo
Bloom period
Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii blooms May-Sep.
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 glandulifera var. peirsonii native to California?
Yes. Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii bloom?
Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii grow?
Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii occurs in Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, Mono, San Luis Obispo, Inyo, at elevations of 300-1850 m.
What plant family does Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii belong to?
Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lessingia.
What habitat does Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii grow in?
Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii grows in dry foothills, desert washes, roadsides, generally in sandy soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa — Warner springs lessingia
- Lessingia hololeuca — Woolly-headed lessingia
- Lessingia leptoclada — Sierra lessingia
- Lessingia micradenia — Little glandular lessingia
- Lessingia micradenia var. glabrata — Smooth lessingia
- Lessingia micradenia var. micradenia — Tamalpais lessingia
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.