Pentachaeta aurea subsp. allenii

Allen's pentachaeta, Allen's Pentachaeta

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Allen's pentachaeta is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern coastal California and Peninsular Ranges in Orange County within grassy areas at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces distinctive yellow and white ray flowers approximately 30 to 45 millimeters long, with the proximal third yellow and the distal two-thirds white. Growing with delicate stems spreading to 15 to 25 centimeters tall, it forms low, open clusters in its native grassland habitat. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, typical of annual composites in coastal California grasslands. The compact flower heads showcase a striking bicolor pattern that distinguishes this rare and delicate annual from other native wildflowers.

Habitat: Grassy areas

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: < 500 m

Bioregions: s SCo, PR (Orange Co.).

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