Sanicula laciniata
Coast sanicle
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sanicula laciniata (Coast sanicle) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by small size, branched base, and sharply angled leaf margins diagnostic.
Coast sanicle is a California native perennial found in northern coastal, central coastal, and San Francisco Bay Area bioregions in coastal, open, or shrubby woodland slopes at elevations of 30 to 900 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers in small clustered heads with delicate, slender inflorescences. Growing 5 to 30 centimeters tall with a slender taprooted habit and branches near the base, it has a compact and graceful form. Its leaves are distinctive, with simple palmately lobed blades 1.5 to 4 centimeters wide, ovate to round, featuring 0 to 5 lobes with sharply angled margins and teeth approximately 2 millimeters long. Its fruit develops as a small ovate structure 2 to 4 millimeters wide, bearing slender, curved prickles that are slightly bulbous at the tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; small size, branched base, and sharply angled leaf margins diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal, open or shrubby slopes, woodland
Elevation: 30-900 m
California counties: Humboldt, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Lake, Napa, Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Trinity, Placer, Los Angeles, San Diego
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Sanicula laciniata blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Lomatium: Sanicula has dense round flower heads; Lomatium has flat-topped umbrella-shaped flower clusters.; vs Tauschia: Sanicula flowers are in tight round heads; Tauschia has open umbrella-shaped clusters.; vs Trifolium: Sanicula fruits are covered in hooked bristles; clover has smooth pods and distinctive three-part leaves.; vs Ranunculus: Sanicula has dense ball-like flower heads; buttercup has individual flowers on separate stalks.; vs Delphinium: Sanicula has round green flower heads; Delphinium has tall spikes of blue/purple spurred flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sanicula laciniata native to California?
Yes. Sanicula laciniata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sanicula laciniata bloom?
Sanicula laciniata blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Sanicula laciniata grow?
Sanicula laciniata occurs in Humboldt, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of 30-900 m.
What plant family does Sanicula laciniata belong to?
Sanicula laciniata is in the Apiaceae family, genus Sanicula.
What habitat does Sanicula laciniata grow in?
Sanicula laciniata grows in Coastal, open or shrubby slopes, woodland.
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.