Plagiobothrys infectivus
Dye popcornflower
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys infectivus (Dye popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by red staining characteristic is unique and diagnostic.
Dye popcornflower is a California native annual found in northern Coast Ranges, western San Joaquin Valley, eastern San Francisco Bay Area, and southern Coast Ranges in open grasslands at elevations of 80 to 830 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers with pink-stained corollas and yellow appendages in small clusters. Growing with erect stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall that are reddish and covered in soft, spreading hairs, it has a short-lived basal rosette of linear leaves. Its leaves are distinctively marked with red midveins, with basal leaves 2 to 8 centimeters long and cauline leaves becoming progressively smaller and more oblong. The fruit consists of 2 to 4 pale gray-green nutlets that are triangular-ovate and slightly arched, with a narrow white-winged ridge.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species - red staining characteristic is unique and diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open grassland, friable clay to sandy soils
Elevation: 80-830 m
California counties: Fresno, Yolo, Monterey, Glenn, Colusa, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Lake, Stanislaus, Kings, El Dorado, Contra Costa, Shasta
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys infectivus 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 infectivus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys infectivus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys infectivus bloom?
Plagiobothrys infectivus blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys infectivus grow?
Plagiobothrys infectivus occurs in Fresno, Yolo, Monterey, Glenn, Colusa, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of 80-830 m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys infectivus belong to?
Plagiobothrys infectivus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys infectivus grow in?
Plagiobothrys infectivus grows in Open grassland, friable clay to sandy soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys leptocladus — Alkali plagiobothrys
- Plagiobothrys lithocaryus — Mayacamas popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys mollis — Creeping popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys mollis var. mollis — Downy popcorn flower
- Plagiobothrys mollis var. vestitus — Petaluma popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys nitens — Shiny-nutlet 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.