Psilocarphus elatior
Tall woolly-marbles, Tall Woolly-Marbles
(c) Matt Bowser, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Bowser · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Psilocarphus elatior (Tall woolly-marbles) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by geography and extreme leaf length/width ratio diagnostic.
Tall woolly-marbles is a California native annual found in the Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau in drying, vernally wet or inundated places at elevations of 900 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces silvery-green heads with small flowers approximately 6 to 8 millimeters in diameter. Growing with 1 to 3 stems reaching up to 35 centimeters tall, it develops a silky-tomentose appearance with distinctive green to silvery coloration. Its leaves are generally oblanceolate to linear, with the longest leaves measuring 17 to 35 millimeters and typically 4.5 to 9 times longer than their width. The tiny fruits are approximately 0.9 to 1.7 millimeters long and nearly cylindrical.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; geography and extreme leaf length/width ratio diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Drying, vernally wet or inundated places, often disturbed
Elevation: 900-1700 m
Outside California: to southwestern British Columbia, northwestern Montana
Bloom period
Psilocarphus elatior blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Stylocline: Psilocarphus has opposite leaves; Stylocline has alternate leaves (may appear whorled).; vs Gnaphalium: Psilocarphus has opposite leaves and no pappus; Gnaphalium has alternate leaves and pappus present.; vs Pseudognaphalium: Psilocarphus has opposite leaves; Pseudognaphalium has alternate leaves.; vs Logfia: Psilocarphus has opposite leaves; Logfia has alternate leaves.; vs Micropus: Psilocarphus lacks prominent petal-like bracts; Micropus has 4-6 conspicuous spoon-shaped outer bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Psilocarphus elatior native to California?
Yes. Psilocarphus elatior is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Psilocarphus elatior bloom?
Psilocarphus elatior blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Psilocarphus elatior belong to?
Psilocarphus elatior is in the Asteraceae family, genus Psilocarphus.
Is Psilocarphus elatior rare or endangered?
Psilocarphus elatior carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S2S3.
What habitat does Psilocarphus elatior grow in?
Psilocarphus elatior grows in Drying, vernally wet or inundated places, often disturbed.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Psilocarphus oregonus — Oregon woollyheads
- Psilocarphus sp. — Woolly-marbles
- Psilocarphus tenellus — Slender woolly-marbles
- Psilocarphus brevissimus — Short woollyheads
- Psilocarphus brevissimus var. brevissimus — Dwarf woollyheads
- Psilocarphus brevissimus var. multiflorus — Delta woolly-marbles
- Psilostrophe cooperi — Cooper's paper daisy
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.