Malacothrix foliosa subsp. foliosa

Leafy malacothrix, Leafy Malacothrix

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

Leafy malacothrix is a California native annual found on San Clemente Island in sandy, open areas and island chaparral at elevations below 150 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces white flowers with ligules up to 10 millimeters long in distinctive heads 7 to 11 millimeters wide. Growing with generally a single erect stem that branches toward the top, it reaches heights typical of small annuals. Its leaves feature distinctive narrow lobes at the base, with upper leaves shaped as narrow ovate to lanceolate blades. The small fruits are less than 1.5 millimeters long with approximately equal ribs.

Habitat: Sandy, open areas or among shrubs in island chaparral

Bloom period: Mar-Jul

Elevation: < 150 m

Bioregions: s ChI (San Clemente Island).

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