Malacothrix foliosa subsp. crispifolia

Wavy-leaved malacothrix, Wavy-Leaved Malacothrix

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Wavy-leaved malacothrix is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the northern Channel Islands on Anacapa Island in island chaparral at elevations of 20 to 100 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces medium yellow flowers with ligules extending 2.5 to 4 millimeters beyond the involucre. Growing with 1 to 6 generally branched stems that spread from the base and upper portions, it forms low, delicate clusters. Its leaves are distinctively shaped with distal leaves that are oblanceolate or obovate, featuring 2 to 5 pairs of narrow lobes with curled margins and acute tips. The small fruits are approximately 1.3 to 1.6 millimeters long with five prominent ribs.

Habitat: Openings in island chaparral

Bloom period: Mar-Jul

Elevation: 20-100 m

Bioregions: n ChI (Anacapa Island).

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