Microseris campestris
San joaquin microseris
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Microseris campestris (San joaquin microseris) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive pale, spotted fruits and vernal pool habitat.
San joaquin microseris is a California native annual found in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Great Valley, eastern Central Western California, and southern California coastal areas in open clay grasslands and near vernal pools at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces yellow or white flowers in delicate heads 5 to 12 millimeters wide. Growing with slender, upright stems 5 to 50 centimeters tall, it emerges as a graceful scapose annual with an elegant, open structure. Its leaves are 3 to 20 centimeters long and generally lobed, creating a soft, feathery appearance across the grassland landscape. The fruit is distinctive, 3 to 5 millimeters long, often gray or pale brown with dark spots, and crowned with delicate curved pappus scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; distinctive pale, spotted fruits and vernal pool habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open clay grassland, often near vernal pools
Elevation: < 500 m
Bloom period
Microseris campestris blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Uropappus: Microseris buds nod before opening; Uropappus buds stay erect and have exactly 5 silvery pappus scales.; vs Agoseris: Microseris has scale-like pappus; Agoseris has bristle-like pappus.; vs Stebbinsoseris: Microseris has triangular to oval pappus scales; Stebbinsoseris has lance-shaped scales.; vs Hypochaeris: Microseris has smooth flower stems; Hypochaeris has branched stems with small leaves.; vs Achyrachaena: Microseris has scale pappus and nodding buds; Achyrachaena has ray and disk flowers with different pappi.
Frequently asked questions
Is Microseris campestris native to California?
Yes. Microseris campestris is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Microseris campestris bloom?
Microseris campestris blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Microseris campestris belong to?
Microseris campestris is in the Asteraceae family, genus Microseris.
What habitat does Microseris campestris grow in?
Microseris campestris grows in Open clay grassland, often near vernal pools.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.