Logfia depressa
Hierba limpia, Hierba Limpia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Logfia depressa (Hierba limpia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive small size and obtuse, short leaves.
Hierba limpia is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada foothills, San Joaquin Valley, southern Coastal regions, Peninsular Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada, and desert regions in dry, open, generally sandy habitats at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces small yellow to brown flowers in tiny heads 3 to 4 millimeters wide. Growing with multiple forked stems 1 to 5 centimeters tall, often appearing gray to white and covered in soft woolly hair. Its leaves are flexible and elliptic to obovate, with the largest leaves measuring 6 to 8 millimeters long and 1 to 2 millimeters wide. The plant's distinctive branching structure and compact size make it well-adapted to arid, open landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinctive small size and obtuse, short leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open, generally sandy flats, slopes, drainages
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Imperial
Outside California: to southern Nevada, southeastern Arizona, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Logfia depressa blooms Feb-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Stylocline: Logfia has fluffy white pappus bristles; Stylocline completely lacks them.; vs Micropus: Logfia has mushroom-shaped heads; Micropus has 4-6 prominent spoon-shaped bracts resembling petals.; vs Eriophyllum: Logfia has tiny, inconspicuous heads nestled low; Eriophyllum has showy yellow ray flowers on upright stems.; vs Gnaphalium: Logfia has mushroom-shaped heads wider than tall; Gnaphalium has cylindrical heads taller than wide.; vs Ancistrocarphus: Logfia lacks hooked spine-tipped bracts; Ancistrocarphus has distinctive inward-curved fishhook tips.
Frequently asked questions
Is Logfia depressa native to California?
Yes. Logfia depressa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Logfia depressa bloom?
Logfia depressa blooms Feb-May.
Where in California does Logfia depressa grow?
Logfia depressa occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Imperial, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Logfia depressa belong to?
Logfia depressa is in the Asteraceae family, genus Logfia.
What habitat does Logfia depressa grow in?
Logfia depressa grows in Dry, open, generally sandy flats, slopes, drainages.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.