Limnanthes bakeri

Baker's meadowfoam

Family: Limnanthaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Baker's meadowfoam is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in central North Coast Ranges near Willits, Mendocino County in vernal pools and marshy lake and stream margins at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pale yellow flowers with white tips in funnel- to bell-shaped blooms, reflexing outward when forming fruit. Growing 10 to 40 centimeters tall with erect or ascending stems that are entirely glabrous, it forms delicate upright clusters. Its leaves feature 3 to 9 elliptic to ovate leaflets typically less than 10 centimeters long, with lower leaflets occasionally showing 2 to 3 lobes. The fruit develops dense, short, and wide tubercles that characterize this distinctive meadowfoam species.

Habitat: Vernal pools, marshy lake and stream margins

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: < 500 m

Bioregions: c NCoRO (near Willits, Mendocino Co.).

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.