Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa

Warner springs lessingia, Warner Springs Lessingia

Lessingia glandulifera — parent species of Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa

Photo: parent species Lessingia glandulifera · (c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence

Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa (Warner springs lessingia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Only 2 co-occurring taxa (parent species); geographically isolated.

Warner springs lessingia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in eastern Peninsular Ranges in Warner Springs, San Diego County grasslands and sandy hillsides at elevations around 900 meters. Flowering from August to November, this plant produces delicate flowers in clustered heads with 15 to 30 individual blooms. Growing with densely tomentose herbage and slender stems that reach up to 20 centimeters tall, it spreads across open grassland areas. Its leaves are small, measuring 0.2 to 2 centimeters long, with a soft, woolly texture that helps the plant retain moisture in dry habitats. The plant's flower heads feature phyllaries that are nearly glabrous or sparsely hairy, with style branch appendages measuring 0.3 to 0.6 millimeters long.

Identification and appearance

Key characters: Only 2 co-occurring taxa (parent species); geographically isolated

Habitat and range

Habitat: Grassland, hillsides, roadsides, generally sandy soil

Elevation: 900 m

Bloom period

Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa blooms Aug-Nov.

Conservation status

CNPS 1B.1

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. tomentosa native to California?

Yes. Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa is native to California (recorded as native).

When does Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa bloom?

Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa blooms Aug-Nov.

What plant family does Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa belong to?

Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lessingia.

Is Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa rare or endangered?

Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.

What habitat does Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa grow in?

Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa grows in Grassland, hillsides, roadsides, generally sandy soil.

Related species

Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.

All Lessingia species · All Asteraceae

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.