Lithospermum incisum

Plains stoneseed, Plains Stoneseed

Family: Boraginaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Plains stoneseed is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the southeastern desert mountains including Keystone Canyon, New York Mountains, and San Bernardino County in sandy, rocky slopes and pinyon-juniper woodland at elevations of 1,650 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces yellow flowers with a salverform shape 15 to 35 millimeters long, featuring jagged-edged lobes and a long tube. Growing with few to several stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms clustered stems that are mostly unbranched with a woody caudex. Its numerous leaves are linear to linear-oblong, measuring 1.5 to 6 centimeters long, growing from a distinctive red root that can be used as a traditional dye. The fruit consists of small ovoid nutlets 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long, with an acute tip and a shiny, grayish surface.

Habitat: Sandy, rocky slopes, pinyon/juniper woodland

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 1650-1700 m

Bioregions: se DMtns (Keystone Canyon, New York Mtns, San Bernardino Co.)

California counties: San Bernardino

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