Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis
Antelope island skeleton plant
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis (Antelope island skeleton plant) is a native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by California represents the southwestern range edge for this primarily Great Basin genus.
Antelope island skeleton plant is a California native perennial found in desert dunes at elevations implied by its desert habitat. Flowering from May to July and October to November, this plant produces lavender-purple to white flowers with ligules 15 to 20 millimeters long. Growing 20 to 60 centimeters tall with stiffly erect or ascending stems that are simple or branched from the base, it develops from a deep vertical rootstock. Its leaves are predominantly linear, with basal and proximal cauline leaves 5 to 12 centimeters long and 2 to 6 millimeters wide, becoming reduced to linear bracts less than 10 millimeters long toward the stem tips. The fruit is 12 to 19 millimeters long, brown in color with a smooth back and grooved front surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: California represents the southwestern range edge for this primarily Great Basin genus
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert dunes
Outside California: to ID, NV, UT, CO
Bloom period
Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis blooms May-Jul, Oct--Nov.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis native to California?
Yes. Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis bloom?
Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis blooms May-Jul, Oct--Nov.
What plant family does Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis belong to?
Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lygodesmia.
What habitat does Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis grow in?
Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis grows in Desert dunes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.