Plagiobothrys reticulatus
Tracy's popcornflower, Tracy's Popcornflower
(c) Karen (with occasional help from Mike), some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys reticulatus (Tracy's popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by reticulate seed surface pattern.
Tracy's popcornflower is a California native annual found in central California grasslands and valley habitats at low elevations. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small white flowers with distinctive yellow appendages approximately 1.5 to 3.5 millimeters in diameter. Growing with decumbent or sprawling stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it spreads in loose, strigose formations across open ground. Its cauline leaves range from 3 to 8 centimeters long, with lower leaves showing a soft, slightly hairy texture. The plant's nutlets are dull brown to gray, with subtle rounded ridges that help distinguish this delicate wildflower.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species - reticulate seed surface pattern is diagnostic
Habitat and range
California counties: Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, Sacramento, Del Norte, Marin, Sierra, Modoc, Trinity, Tuolumne, San Joaquin, Mariposa, San Luis Obispo, Lassen, Santa Clara, Calaveras, Nevada, San Francisco, Siskiyou, Kern, San Diego, Stanislaus, Monterey, San Bernardino
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 reticulatus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys reticulatus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Plagiobothrys reticulatus grow?
Plagiobothrys reticulatus occurs in Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, Sacramento, Del Norte, Marin, Sierra and other counties.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys reticulatus belong to?
Plagiobothrys reticulatus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus — Reticulate popcorn flower
- Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. rossianorum — Fort ross popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys salsus — Desert popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys scriptus — Scridgee's popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys shastensis — Shasta popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys sp. — 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.