Nemacaulis denudata var. gracilis

Slender cottonheads, Slender Cottonheads

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Slender cottonheads is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native annual found in southwestern and desert southern California bioregions in desert habitats at elevations of 10 to 500 meters. Flowering from January to May, this plant produces white flowers obscured by light brown hairs, creating delicate woolly flower clusters. Growing with slender stems 4 to 25 centimeters tall and spreading up to 20 centimeters wide, it forms a delicate, open structure in arid landscapes. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, measuring 1 to 7 centimeters long and only 1 to 6 millimeters wide, contributing to its graceful, minimalist appearance. The plant's involucre bracts are small, measuring 2 to 4 millimeters long and approximately 0.5 to 1 millimeter wide.

Habitat: Deserts

Bloom period: Jan-May

Elevation: 10-500 m

Bioregions: SW, DSon

California counties: San Diego, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Los Angeles, Fresno

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