Malacothrix clevelandii
Cleveland's dandelion
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Malacothrix clevelandii (Cleveland's dandelion) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive small flowers and disturbed habitat preference.
Cleveland's dandelion is a California native annual found in northwestern California, southern Sierra Nevada foothills, southern Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, central western, and southwestern California in cleared areas, chaparral, and desert margins at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces pale yellow flowers in open clusters with ligules extending 1 to 3 millimeters beyond the involucre. Growing up to 40 centimeters tall with 1 to 5 erect or ascending stems that are generally branched toward the top, it has a distinctive growth habit. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate with well-spaced teeth or short lobes of approximately equal length, while upper leaves are much reduced with 2 to 4 teeth at the base. The fruit develops as a small structure about 1.2 to 1.8 millimeters long with needle-like outer pappus teeth.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 21 sympatric species; distinctive small flowers and disturbed habitat preference
Habitat and range
Habitat: Cleared areas (burns, slides), generally chaparral, +- desert margins
Elevation: < 1500 m
Outside California: to Utah, South America
Bloom period
Malacothrix clevelandii blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Rafinesquia: Rafinesquia has persistent pappus that stays attached; Malacothrix pappus falls off easily when disturbed.; vs Pinaropappus: Pinaropappus pappus remains attached to seeds; Malacothrix pappus falls away easily.; vs Anisocoma: Anisocoma has scale-like pappus; Malacothrix has bristly pappus that falls off easily.; vs Calycoseris: Calycoseris leaves have glandular-sticky stems; Malacothrix lacks the sticky glandular feel.; vs Agoseris: Agoseris pappus stays firmly attached; Malacothrix pappus falls off at the slightest touch.
Frequently asked questions
Is Malacothrix clevelandii native to California?
Yes. Malacothrix clevelandii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Malacothrix clevelandii bloom?
Malacothrix clevelandii blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Malacothrix clevelandii belong to?
Malacothrix clevelandii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Malacothrix.
What habitat does Malacothrix clevelandii grow in?
Malacothrix clevelandii grows in Cleared areas (burns, slides), generally chaparral, +- desert margins.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Malacothrix coulteri — Snake's-head
- Malacothrix floccifera — Woolly dandelion
- Malacothrix foliosa — Leafy desertdandelion
- Malacothrix foliosa subsp. crispifolia — Wavy-leaved malacothrix
- Malacothrix foliosa subsp. foliosa — Leafy malacothrix
- Malacothrix foliosa subsp. philbrickii — Philbrick's malacothrix
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.