Plagiobothrys lithocaryus

Mayacamas popcornflower

Family: Boraginaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1A

Mayacamas popcornflower is a rare (CNPS 1A) California native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges Interior valleys near the Mayacamas Mountains at elevations of 300 to 450 meters in moist sites, now presumed extinct. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces small white flowers with a corolla limb 2 to 4 millimeters in diameter. Growing with erect stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall that are short-strigose and minimally branched at the base, it develops cauline leaves up to 6 centimeters long. Its leaves are sparse, with lower leaves extending 3 to 6 centimeters along the stem. The fruit consists of shiny, tan-colored nutlets 1.8 to 2.5 millimeters long with a rounded abaxial ridge and a linear scar near the base.

Habitat: Presumed extinct. Moist sites

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 300-450 m

Bioregions: s NCoRI (valleys near Mayacamas Mtns).

California counties: Lake, Mendocino

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.