Pentachaeta bellidiflora
White-rayed pentachaeta
(c) Katherine Scott, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Pentachaeta bellidiflora (White-rayed pentachaeta) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by white rays and often absent pappus.
White-rayed pentachaeta is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in northern Central Coast and San Francisco Bay Area in grassy or rocky areas at elevations below 620 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white ray flowers 3 to 6 millimeters long with subtle red tones on the underside, accompanied by yellow disk flowers. Growing with delicate stems 6 to 17 centimeters tall that are sparsely hairy, it forms small clusters of up to 4 flower heads. Its narrow leaves are less than 4.5 centimeters long and only 1 millimeter wide, appearing smooth and glabrous. The flower heads have distinctive widely bell-shaped involucres with elliptic to obovate phyllaries that are completely glabrous.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are white rays and often absent pappus
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy or rocky areas
Elevation: < 620 m
Bloom period
Pentachaeta bellidiflora blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
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 bellidiflora native to California?
Yes. Pentachaeta bellidiflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pentachaeta bellidiflora bloom?
Pentachaeta bellidiflora blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Pentachaeta bellidiflora belong to?
Pentachaeta bellidiflora is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pentachaeta.
Is Pentachaeta bellidiflora rare or endangered?
Pentachaeta bellidiflora carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Pentachaeta bellidiflora grow in?
Pentachaeta bellidiflora grows in Grassy or rocky areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.