Lyonothamnus sp.
Catalina ironwood, Catalina Ironwood
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Lyonothamnus sp. (Catalina ironwood) is a native California annual in the Rosaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Comptonia: Lyonothamnus has opposite leaves and peeling bark; sweetfern has alternate leaves and non-peeling bark.; vs Podocarpus: Lyonothamnus has flat-topped white flower clusters; podocarpus has cone-like seed structures.; vs Banksia: Lyonothamnus has small white flowers in flat clusters; banksia has large cylindrical flower spikes.; vs Acacia: Lyonothamnus has opposite leaves with toothed edges; acacia has alternate feathery or simple leaves.; vs Purshia: Lyonothamnus is a tree with opposite leaves and peeling bark; Purshia is a shrub with alternate lobed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lyonothamnus sp. native to California?
Yes. Lyonothamnus sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Lyonothamnus sp. belong to?
Lyonothamnus sp. is in the Rosaceae family, genus Lyonothamnus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.