Plagiobothrys uncinatus
Hooked popcornflower
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Plagiobothrys uncinatus (Hooked popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by distinctive hooked hairs and red staining habit.
Hooked popcornflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southern Coastal Ranges in chaparral and rocky canyon sides at elevations of 300 to 600 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces small white flowers with pale yellow appendages and delicate pink-stained corollas about 1.5 to 2 millimeters in diameter. Growing with decumbent to erect reddish stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops distinctive spreading, stiff hairs that are often hooked at the tips. Its leaves form a basal rosette 1 to 4 centimeters long, with alternate cauline leaves that are ovate in shape. The fruit consists of small brown nutlets about 1 to 1.3 millimeters long, featuring narrow lateral ridges and irregular translucent papillae.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species - distinctive hooked hairs and red staining habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, canyon sides, rocky outcrops, +- fire follower
Elevation: 300-600 m
California counties: Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Benito
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys uncinatus blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 uncinatus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys uncinatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys uncinatus bloom?
Plagiobothrys uncinatus blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys uncinatus grow?
Plagiobothrys uncinatus occurs in Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, at elevations of 300-600 m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys uncinatus belong to?
Plagiobothrys uncinatus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
Is Plagiobothrys uncinatus rare or endangered?
Plagiobothrys uncinatus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys undulatus — Wavy-stemmed popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys verrucosus — Forget-me-not popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys acanthocarpus — Adobe popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys arizonicus — Arizona popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys austiniae — Austin's spiny-nut popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys bracteatus — Bracted popcornflower
- Simpsonanthus jonesii — Simpson's popcornflower
- Simpsonanthus sp.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.