Malacothrix saxatilis var. saxatilis

Cliff malacothrix, Cliff Malacothrix

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

Cliff malacothrix is a California native perennial found in northern Santa Catalina and southwestern Transverse Ranges (Santa Barbara County) on coastal bluffs, in rock crevices and flats at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces white ray flowers in distinctive heads with yellow disk centers. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it emerges from a rhizomatous base with delicate, spreading growth. Its leaves are linear to slightly ovate, ranging from entire to subtly toothed, with obtuse or acute tips that may have occasional proximal lobes. The plant appears relatively sparse and glabrous to lightly hairy, adapting well to the harsh coastal environment.

Habitat: Coastal bluffs, on flats or in crevices

Bloom period: Apr-Aug

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: n SCo, sw WTR (Santa Barbara Co.).

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