Pleiacanthus sp.
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Annual · Native
Pleiacanthus sp. is a native California annual in the Asteraceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Stephanomeria: Stephanomeria stems are smooth or slightly rough, never armed with sharp spines like Pleiacanthus.; vs Menodora: Menodora has tubular 4-lobed flowers (Oleaceae family), Pleiacanthus has composite ray flowers.; vs Chondrilla: Chondrilla has smooth stems and yellow flowers, Pleiacanthus has thorny stems and pink-purple flowers.; vs Hieracium: Hieracium has hairy but never thorny stems and always yellow flowers.; vs Prenanthella: Prenanthella has smooth stems and nodding buds, Pleiacanthus has thorny stems and erect buds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pleiacanthus sp. native to California?
Yes. Pleiacanthus sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Pleiacanthus sp. belong to?
Pleiacanthus sp. is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pleiacanthus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.