Plagiobothrys distantiflorus
Madera popcornflower, Madera Popcornflower
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys distantiflorus (Madera popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by slender habit, minute white appendages, elongate-ovate nutlets.
Madera popcornflower is a California native annual found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothill regions in moist grasslands, open woodlands, seeps, and springs at elevations of 50 to 1,040 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces delicate white flowers with small limbs approximately 1 to 1.5 millimeters in diameter. Growing with slender, prostrate to decumbent stems 10 to 30 centimeters long that are strigose (covered in straight, appressed hairs), it develops thin branching stems. Its cauline leaves are small, measuring 0.5 to 2.5 centimeters in length, distributed along the stem with bracts present throughout. The fruit consists of distinctive nutlets about 1 millimeter long, with narrow elongate-ovate shape and crowded cross-ribs that are wrinkled and occasionally bristled.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; slender habit, minute white appendages, elongate-ovate nutlets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Moist places in grassland, open woodland, seeps, springs
Elevation: 50-1040 m
California counties: Stanislaus, Tulare, Colusa, Fresno, Placer, Tuolumne, Madera, Mariposa, Calaveras, Merced
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys distantiflorus blooms Mar-May.
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 distantiflorus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys distantiflorus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys distantiflorus bloom?
Plagiobothrys distantiflorus blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys distantiflorus grow?
Plagiobothrys distantiflorus occurs in Stanislaus, Tulare, Colusa, Fresno, Placer, Tuolumne, Madera, Mariposa and other counties, at elevations of 50-1040 m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys distantiflorus belong to?
Plagiobothrys distantiflorus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys distantiflorus grow in?
Plagiobothrys distantiflorus grows in Uncommon. Moist places in grassland, open woodland, seeps, springs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys fulvus var. campestris — Field popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys glaber — Hairless popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus — Sculptured-nut popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus — Sculptured allocarya
- Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus — Cedar ridge popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys greenei — Greene's spiny-nut popcornflower
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.