Microseris douglasii subsp. tenella

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Native

Small-flowered microseris is a California native annual found in northern California coastal ranges, Sacramento Valley, western Central Valley, coastal southern California, and northern Channel Islands in grassland habitats, often near vernal pools or serpentine outcrops at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this delicate plant produces pale yellow to white flowers in small, drooping heads. Growing with slender, branching stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it emerges from a thin taproot. Its leaves are narrow, linear to lance-shaped, typically 3 to 15 centimeters long, arranged in a basal rosette. The fruit is small and slightly swollen near the middle, with short pappus scales and delicate bristles.

Habitat: Inland clay soils, grassland, often near vernal pools or serpentine outcrops (coastal in southern CCo)

Bloom period: Mar-Jun

Elevation: < 500 m

Bioregions: NCoRH, NCoRI, ScV, w-c SnJV, CW, n SCo, n ChI.

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