Plagiobothrys cusickii
Cusick's popcornflower
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Plagiobothrys cusickii (Cusick's popcornflower) is a native California annual in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by Great Basin habitat, hollow sunken nutlet scar with incurved margins.
Cusick's popcornflower is a California native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, northern and central Sierra Nevada, southwestern Sacramento Valley, and Great Basin in wet, muddy areas, flats in sagebrush scrub, and conifer forest at elevations of 450 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces small white flowers approximately 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter with delicate, clustered inflorescences. Growing with erect or occasionally prostrate stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops branches above the base and has lower cauline leaves extending 3 to 10 centimeters. Its leaves are strigose (covered in appressed, straight hairs), with lower leaves showing characteristic variation in shape and orientation. The fruit consists of shiny, asymmetric nutlets with subtle surface textures, featuring cross-ribs and occasional tubercles that contribute to its distinctive appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 25 sympatric species; Great Basin habitat, hollow sunken nutlet scar with incurved margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet, muddy areas, flats in sagebrush scrub, conifer forest
Elevation: (60)450-2100 m
California counties: Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Sierra, Plumas, Butte, Placer, Nevada, Mendocino, Tuolumne, Napa, Shasta, Solano, Siskiyou, Inyo, Mariposa, El Dorado
Outside California: to eastern Washington, Idaho, Nevada
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys cusickii blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Cryptantha: Seeds have a raised ridge down the inner face, not a groove like Cryptantha.; vs Pectocarya: Seeds lack the comb-like marginal barbs of Pectocarya; attachment scar is raised.; vs Myosotis: Flowers are smaller and more tubular; Myosotis has wider, flatter blue flowers with yellow centers.; vs Nemophila: Nemophila has much larger, showier blue-white flowers and broader leaves.; vs Leptosiphon: Leptosiphon has needle-like divided leaves; Plagiobothrys has simple narrow leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plagiobothrys cusickii native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys cusickii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys cusickii bloom?
Plagiobothrys cusickii blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys cusickii grow?
Plagiobothrys cusickii occurs in Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Sierra, Plumas, Butte, Placer, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of (60)450-2100 m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys cusickii belong to?
Plagiobothrys cusickii is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys cusickii grow in?
Plagiobothrys cusickii grows in Wet, muddy areas, flats in sagebrush scrub, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys diffusus — San francisco popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys distantiflorus — Madera popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys fulvus var. campestris — Field popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys glaber — Hairless popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus — Sculptured-nut popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus — Sculptured allocarya
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.