Porophyllum gracile
Odora, slender poreleaf, Slender Poreleaf
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Porophyllum gracile (Odora) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Distinctive desert/mountain distribution.
Odora is a California native perennial found in the Peninsular Ranges and desert regions on rocky slopes, washes, scrub, and desert woodland at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from September to June, this plant produces flowers that are approximately purple or white, roughly 7 to 9 millimeters long. Growing with slender, ascending branches 30 to 70 centimeters tall, the stems are distinctively glaucous and glabrous. Its leaves are entire, bluish-green, and measure 1 to 5 centimeters long. The plant bears 1 to few flower heads with 5 free, oblong phyllaries that are glaucous and marked with glandular dots or streaks.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with no sympatric species. Distinctive desert/mountain distribution.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, washes, scrub, desert woodland
Elevation: < 1600 m
Outside California: to Nevada, Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Porophyllum gracile blooms Sep-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Tagetes: Porophyllum (poreleaf) has a cylindric involucre of about five free phyllaries and rayless heads of purple to whitish disk florets; marigolds have fused involucres and usually showy ray flowers.; vs Adenophyllum: Porophyllum lacks ray flowers and has no bractlets below the involucre; Adenophyllum bears ray florets and a set of calyx-like bractlets.; vs Pectis: Porophyllum is an erect, oil-gland-streaked plant with purplish rayless heads; Pectis is low with linear gland-dotted leaves and yellow ray flowers.; vs Dyssodia: Porophyllum has few large discoid heads on peduncles swollen just below the head; Dyssodia is small with many gland-dotted involucres and often yellow rays.; vs Flaveria: Porophyllum heads are purplish and rayless with conspicuous oil glands on the phyllaries; Flaveria has tiny clustered yellow heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Porophyllum gracile native to California?
Yes. Porophyllum gracile is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Porophyllum gracile bloom?
Porophyllum gracile blooms Sep-Jun.
What plant family does Porophyllum gracile belong to?
Porophyllum gracile is in the Asteraceae family, genus Porophyllum.
What habitat does Porophyllum gracile grow in?
Porophyllum gracile grows in Rocky slopes, washes, scrub, desert woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.