Phalacroseris bolanderi
Bolander's mock dandelion
(c) My-Lan Le, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Phalacroseris bolanderi (Bolander's mock dandelion) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Sierra Nevada endemic, monotypic genus with unique pappus reduction.
Bolander's mock dandelion is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in wet meadows and sphagnum bogs at elevations of 1,600 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in delicate ligulate heads 10 to 18 millimeters long that readily wither after blooming. Growing with smooth scaped stems 10 to 45 centimeters tall emerging from a fleshy caudex and dark taproot, it has a distinctive milky sap. Its basal leaves are linear to oblanceolate, 6 to 20 centimeters long with obtuse to acuminate tips, arranged in a rosette at the base of the plant. The fruit is a pale brown, dark-spotted oblong achene 3 to 4 millimeters long with a minimal or absent pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Sierra Nevada endemic, monotypic genus with unique pappus reduction
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, sphagnum bogs
Elevation: 1600-3000 m
Bloom period
Phalacroseris bolanderi blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Lapsana: Phalacroseris has leafless stems with solitary heads; Lapsana has leafy stems with branching flower clusters.; vs Atrichoseris: Phalacroseris grows in wet mountain meadows; Atrichoseris grows in hot desert valleys.; vs Rhagadiolus: Phalacroseris has single heads on bare stems; Rhagadiolus has multiple heads on leafy branching stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phalacroseris bolanderi native to California?
Yes. Phalacroseris bolanderi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phalacroseris bolanderi bloom?
Phalacroseris bolanderi blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Phalacroseris bolanderi belong to?
Phalacroseris bolanderi is in the Asteraceae family, genus Phalacroseris.
What habitat does Phalacroseris bolanderi grow in?
Phalacroseris bolanderi grows in Wet meadows, sphagnum bogs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.