Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber
Serpentine popcornflower, Serpentine Popcornflower
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Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber (Serpentine popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by Montane distribution; less hairy than var. tener.
Serpentine popcornflower is a California native annual found in northern Coast Range Interior regions including Lake and northern Napa counties in wet to moist meadows and ephemeral drainages within chaparral and woodland habitats, typically on serpentine substrate at elevations of 290 to 690 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers with corolla limbs 3 to 7 millimeters in diameter. Growing with prostrate to erect stems that are fleshy and slightly glaucous, it develops scattered stems that can range from low-growing to upright. Its leaves feature scattered hairs on the lower surface, with an overall delicate and sparse appearance. The tiny nutlets are tan to black, measuring 1.1 to 1.4 millimeters long with a narrow-ovate scar near the base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Montane distribution; less hairy than var. tener
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet to moist meadows, ephemeral drainages in chaparral, woodland, generally on serpentine
Elevation: 290-690 m
California counties: Napa, Lake
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber 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 tener var. subglaber native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber bloom?
Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber grow?
Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber occurs in Napa, Lake, at elevations of 290-690 m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber belong to?
Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber grow in?
Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber grows in Wet to moist meadows, ephemeral drainages in chaparral, woodland, generally on serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys tener var. tener — Slender popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys torreyi — High sierra popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys torreyi var. diffusus — Torrey's popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys torreyi var. perplexans — Chaparral popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys torreyi var. torreyi — Yosemite popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys trachycarpus — Rough-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.