Senecio aphanactis
Chaparral ragwort, Chaparral Ragwort
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Senecio aphanactis (Chaparral ragwort) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by tiny size, minute rays, and alkaline habitat preference.
Chaparral ragwort is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in central western, southern coastal, and Channel Islands bioregions in alkaline flats and dry open rocky areas at elevations of 10 to 550 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces white to yellow flowers in small clusters with delicate, narrow heads. Growing 5 to 20 centimeters tall with thin, often branched stems that emerge from a short taproot, it has a delicate and sparse appearance. Its leaves are oblanceolate to linear, 2 to 4 centimeters long, with pinnately lobed or toothed edges that become smaller and more bract-like toward the stem tips. The fruit is densely hairy and measures 1.7 to 2.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; key features are tiny size, minute rays, and alkaline habitat preference
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline flats, dry open rocky areas
Elevation: 10-550 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Senecio aphanactis blooms Feb-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Packera: Senecio has larger leaves (over 2.5 inches) and often black-tipped bracts; Packera has tiny leaves (under 1.5 inches) with green or reddish tips.; vs Sonchus: Senecio has yellow daisy flowers with a neat single row of bracts; Sonchus has dandelion-like flowers and milky sap when broken.; vs Dudleya: Senecio is in the sunflower family with daisy flowers; Dudleya is a succulent with thick fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers.; vs Ericameria: Senecio has one main row of equal bracts around flower heads; Ericameria has 2-4 overlapping rows of unequal bracts.; vs Taraxacum: Senecio has branching stems with multiple flower heads; Taraxacum has leafless hollow stems with single dandelion-like heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Senecio aphanactis native to California?
Yes. Senecio aphanactis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Senecio aphanactis bloom?
Senecio aphanactis blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Senecio aphanactis belong to?
Senecio aphanactis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Senecio.
Is Senecio aphanactis rare or endangered?
Senecio aphanactis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Senecio aphanactis grow in?
Senecio aphanactis grows in Alkaline flats, dry open rocky areas.
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.