Microseris paludosa

Marsh microseris, Marsh Microseris

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Marsh microseris is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Central Coast and San Francisco Bay Area in moist grasslands and open woodlands at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces yellow-orange flowers in involucres 10 to 20 millimeters long with distinctive mealy and black-hairy edges. Growing 15 to 70 centimeters tall with branching mostly near the base, it develops a leafy structure with characteristic form. Its leaves range from 5 to 35 centimeters long, varying from entire to slightly lobed across the plant's structure. The fruit is straw-colored or dull white, 4 to 7 millimeters long, with a delicate pappus of brown scales and barbed bristles.

Habitat: Moist grassland, open woodland

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: < 300 m

Bioregions: CCo, SnFrB.

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