Pulicaria paludosa

Spanish false fleabane

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Spanish false fleabane is a naturalized perennial found in western San Joaquin Valley, southwestern California, western Desert Mountains, and Desert Colorado regions in disturbed ground, watercourses, and moist soils at elevations below 950 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces yellow flowers in small heads approximately 10 millimeters in diameter. Growing with stiff stems 60 to 120 centimeters tall emerging from a short rhizome, it has a soft-hairy appearance. Its leaves are narrow and linear to oblong, 1 to 3 centimeters long, often rolled under and slightly clasping the stem. The fruit is tiny, approximately 1 millimeter long with inner pappus bristles 2 to 3 millimeters in length.

Habitat: Invasive weed in watercourses, moist soils, disturbed ground, especially in SW

Bloom period: Jul-Oct

Elevation: < 950 m

Bioregions: w SnJV, SW, w DMtns, DSon

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.