Pentachaeta alsinoides
Tiny pygmy daisy
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pentachaeta alsinoides (Tiny pygmy daisy) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by vestigial rays and 3 pappus bristles.
Tiny pygmy daisy is a California native annual found in the North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, northern California Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, and western Transverse Ranges in grassy areas, open woodland, and chaparral openings at elevations below 550 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces light yellow flowers with red-tipped petals in small heads, typically less than 1 millimeter long. Growing with delicate stems 3 to 14 centimeters tall, it forms dense clusters with hairy lower stems. Its tiny leaves are less than 3.5 centimeters long, only 1 millimeter wide, and sparsely hairy on the upper surface. Each plant can produce up to 200 flower heads, with distinctive ray flowers that are often reduced to small tubes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key features are vestigial rays and 3 pappus bristles
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy areas, open woodland, chaparral openings
Elevation: < 550 m
Bloom period
Pentachaeta alsinoides blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Lasthenia: Pentachaeta has only 1-5 female flowers per head; Lasthenia has many more female flowers.; vs Thymophylla: Pentachaeta is non-glandular and unscented; Thymophylla is strongly aromatic with glands.; vs Eriophyllum: Pentachaeta has thread-like delicate stems; Eriophyllum has sturdier stems and woolly coating.; vs Bebbia: Pentachaeta is tiny delicate annual; Bebbia is woody shrub with nearly leafless stems.; vs Hazardia: Pentachaeta is thread-like delicate annual; Hazardia is woody leafy shrub.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pentachaeta alsinoides native to California?
Yes. Pentachaeta alsinoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pentachaeta alsinoides bloom?
Pentachaeta alsinoides blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Pentachaeta alsinoides belong to?
Pentachaeta alsinoides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pentachaeta.
What habitat does Pentachaeta alsinoides grow in?
Pentachaeta alsinoides grows in Grassy areas, open woodland, chaparral openings.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.