Psathyrotes ramosissima
Turtleback, Turtleback
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Psathyrotes ramosissima (Turtleback) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by key differences in elevation, habitat, and pappus bristle number.
Turtleback is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada and desert regions in sandy creosote-bush scrub at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces pale yellow flowers in broadly bell-shaped heads 6 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with branching stems 3 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms a low, compact plant with multiple stems. Its leaves are distinctively rounded to deltate, 8 to 25 millimeters long and up to 30 millimeters wide, with toothed edges. The fruit is accompanied by 120 to 140 pappus bristles approximately 3 to 4 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differences in elevation, habitat, and pappus bristle number
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 1200 m
Outside California: southern Nevada, Arizona, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Psathyrotes ramosissima blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Marrubium: Psathyrotes is in Asteraceae with composite flowers; horehound is in mint family with whorled flowers.; vs Eriogonum: Psathyrotes has yellow composite flowers; buckwheat has clustered ball-like pink/white/yellow blooms.; vs Delairea: Psathyrotes forms low desert mounds; Delairea is a climbing coastal vine.; vs Cacaliopsis: Psathyrotes is a low woolly desert mound; Cacaliopsis is an upright mountain plant.; vs Senecio: Psathyrotes forms dense woolly cushions with circular leaves; Senecio is upright with divided leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Psathyrotes ramosissima native to California?
Yes. Psathyrotes ramosissima is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Psathyrotes ramosissima bloom?
Psathyrotes ramosissima blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Psathyrotes ramosissima belong to?
Psathyrotes ramosissima is in the Asteraceae family, genus Psathyrotes.
What habitat does Psathyrotes ramosissima grow in?
Psathyrotes ramosissima grows in Sandy creosote-bush scrub.
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.