Pseudobahia peirsonii
San joaquin adobe sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst
(c) paulexcoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
Pseudobahia peirsonii (San joaquin adobe sunburst) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by largest species (20-70 cm) with broad leaf segments (1-5 mm) and largest flower heads.
San joaquin adobe sunburst is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills in Kern County and southeastern San Joaquin Valley in Fresno and Tulare counties, growing in grassland and bare dark clay at elevations of 100 to 900 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers in heads with distinctive oblanceolate phyllaries fused only at the base. Growing 20 to 70 centimeters tall with erect stems, it develops triangular-ovate leaves typically 2 to 6 centimeters long that are 2-pinnately lobed with narrow segments 1 to 5 millimeters wide. Its leaves feature intricate lobing, with smaller plants showing simpler 1-pinnate leaf structure and larger plants displaying more complex 2-pinnate divisions. The fruit is approximately 3 millimeters long with glandular disk flower lobes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; largest species (20-70 cm) with broad leaf segments (1-5 mm) and largest flower heads
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, bare dark clay
Elevation: 100-900 m
Bloom period
Pseudobahia peirsonii blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
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 peirsonii native to California?
Yes. Pseudobahia peirsonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pseudobahia peirsonii bloom?
Pseudobahia peirsonii blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Pseudobahia peirsonii belong to?
Pseudobahia peirsonii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pseudobahia.
Is Pseudobahia peirsonii rare or endangered?
Pseudobahia peirsonii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Pseudobahia peirsonii grow in?
Pseudobahia peirsonii grows in Grassland, bare dark clay.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.