Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana
Bellinger's meadowfoam, Bellinger's Meadowfoam
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Limnanthaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana (Bellinger's meadowfoam) is a native California herb in the Limnanthaceae family, recognized by urn-shaped flowers and distinctive fruit characters.
Bellinger's meadowfoam is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the Shasta County region of the California Ranges in vernal pool edges at elevations of 300 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers with urn-shaped corollas and delicate sepals up to 8 millimeters long. Growing with glabrous herbage and slender stems, it forms compact clusters low to the ground. Its leaves are divided into fine, delicate segments that blend seamlessly with the surrounding vernal pool vegetation. The fruit develops as one to two mericarps with distinctive plate-like tubercles that have pointed tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; urn-shaped flowers and distinctive fruit characters
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pool edges
Elevation: 300-1100 m
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Cerastium: Limnanthes has jagged petal tips and entire leaves; Cerastium has deeply notched petals.; vs Layia: Limnanthes has separate 4-5 petals in a simple flower; Layia is a composite with many ray flowers.; vs Sabulina: Limnanthes has pinnately divided fern-like leaves; Sabulina has simple narrow leaves.; vs Nemophila: Limnanthes has 4 petals with jagged tips; Nemophila has 5 petals with smooth edges.; vs Sidalcea: Limnanthes has 4-5 petals and pinnate leaves; Sidalcea has 5 petals and palmately lobed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana native to California?
Yes. Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana bloom?
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana belong to?
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana is in the Limnanthaceae family, genus Limnanthes.
Is Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana rare or endangered?
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
What habitat does Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana grow in?
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. bellingeriana grows in Vernal pool edges.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.