Pseudobahia heermannii
Foothill sunburst, brittlestem, Brittlestem
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pseudobahia heermannii (Foothill sunburst) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by mid-sized with narrow leaf segments (0.5-1.5 mm) and widest elevation range.
Foothill sunburst is a California native annual found in the Butte County region and Sierra Nevada foothills in sandy grasslands, open chaparral, woodland, and yellow-pine forest at elevations of 100 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces yellow sunburst-like flowers in compact clusters with distinctive reddish flower stalks. Growing with slender stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it has delicate, finely divided leaves with narrow segments less than 1.5 millimeters wide. Its leaves are uniquely structured with 1 to 2 pinnate lobes, creating a feathery, intricate foliage pattern. The plant's compact involucre, with approximately 8 lance-elliptic phyllaries fused at the base, provides additional botanical interest.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; mid-sized with narrow leaf segments (0.5-1.5 mm) and widest elevation range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or rocky grassland, open chaparral, woodland, yellow-pine forest
Elevation: 100-1600 m
Bloom period
Pseudobahia heermannii blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Lasthenia: Lasthenia has angled fruits; Pseudobahia fruits are distinctly flattened and compressed side-to-side.; vs Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum includes perennials with angular fruits; Pseudobahia is strictly annual with flattened fruits.; vs Amauriopsis: Amauriopsis is bright green with stalked glands; Pseudobahia is gray-woolly without prominent glands.; vs Baileya: Baileya rays persist and curl backward; Pseudobahia rays wither and drop normally.; vs Monolopia: Monolopia has disk flowers only (no rays); Pseudobahia has both ray and disk flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pseudobahia heermannii native to California?
Yes. Pseudobahia heermannii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pseudobahia heermannii bloom?
Pseudobahia heermannii blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Pseudobahia heermannii belong to?
Pseudobahia heermannii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pseudobahia.
What habitat does Pseudobahia heermannii grow in?
Pseudobahia heermannii grows in Sandy or rocky grassland, open chaparral, woodland, yellow-pine forest.
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.