Lessingia virgata
Wand lessingia, Wand Lessingia
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lessingia virgata (Wand lessingia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by spike-like inflorescence and wand-like habit distinctive.
Wand lessingia is a California native annual found in northern Sierra Nevada foothills, northeastern Sacramento Valley, and northern California coast ranges in dry plains, grassy woodland openings, and occasionally volcanic soils at elevations of 50 to 500 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces white to pale lavender flowers in narrow spike-like clusters with darker flower tubes. Growing with erect stems 5 to 60 centimeters tall, it develops long ascending branches that are tan and sparsely hairy. Its small oblong to ovate leaves are 5 to 10 millimeters long, appressed upward, and covered with sunken glands and tomentose hairs. The plant's narrow involucres are 5 to 7 millimeters long with lanceolate phyllaries that have green or purple tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 5 species; spike-like inflorescence and wand-like habit distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry plains and foothills, grassy openings in woodland, occasionally in volcanic soil
Elevation: 50-500 m
Bloom period
Lessingia virgata blooms Jun-Oct.
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 virgata native to California?
Yes. Lessingia virgata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lessingia virgata bloom?
Lessingia virgata blooms Jun-Oct.
What plant family does Lessingia virgata belong to?
Lessingia virgata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lessingia.
What habitat does Lessingia virgata grow in?
Lessingia virgata grows in dry plains and foothills, grassy openings in woodland, occasionally in volcanic soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lessingia arachnoidea — Crystal springs lessingia
- 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
- Leucanthemum lacustre — Portuguese daisy
- Leucanthemum maximum — Shasta daisy
- Leucanthemum sp.
- Leucanthemum vulgare — Ox-eye daisy
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.