Sanicula peckiana
Peck's sanicle, Peck's Sanicle
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Sanicula peckiana (Peck's sanicle) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by Del Norte County location diagnostic.
Peck's sanicle is a California native perennial found in the northwestern Klamath Ranges of Del Norte County in serpentine chaparral and woodland at elevations of 150 to 800 meters. Flowering in May, this plant produces yellow flowers in delicate heads with distinct branching inflorescences. Growing 16 to 38 centimeters tall with a glabrous (smooth, hairless) structure, it has an upright and elegant form. Its leaves are complex, with deeply dissected green blades 5 to 10 centimeters long, featuring seven or more sharply toothed main divisions in an oblong-ovate shape. The fruit develops as small ovate to round clusters with distinctive unarmed bulbous tubercles that transition to curved prickles toward the edges.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; Del Norte County location diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine, chaparral, woodland
Elevation: 150-800 m
California counties: Del Norte
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Sanicula peckiana blooms May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 peckiana native to California?
Yes. Sanicula peckiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sanicula peckiana bloom?
Sanicula peckiana blooms May.
Where in California does Sanicula peckiana grow?
Sanicula peckiana occurs in Del Norte, at elevations of 150-800 m.
What plant family does Sanicula peckiana belong to?
Sanicula peckiana is in the Apiaceae family, genus Sanicula.
Is Sanicula peckiana rare or endangered?
Sanicula peckiana carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
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.