Stebbinsoseris decipiens
Santa cruz microseris
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Stebbinsoseris decipiens (Santa cruz microseris) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Santa cruz microseris is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in northern and central Coast Ranges in open, sandy, shaly, or serpentine coastal sites at elevations of 10 to 500 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces bright yellow ligulate flowers in involucres 6 to 19 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 10 to 60 centimeters tall, it develops delicate, elongated leaves 5 to 20 centimeters in length. Its leaves are distinctive, spreading across sandy or serpentine ground in loose, open configurations. The fruit features hair-like pappus bristles 4 to 5 millimeters long, emerging from irregularly cut scale tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated to n&c central coast
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy, shaly, or serpentine sites, coastal
Elevation: 10-500 m
California counties: Marin, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Kings
Bloom period
Stebbinsoseris decipiens blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Uropappus: Count the pappus scales - Uropappus always has exactly 5 silvery scales, Stebbinsoseris has more than 5.; vs Microseris: Check buds - Microseris buds nod downward, Stebbinsoseris buds stay erect.; vs Tragopogon: Tragopogon is much larger with grass-like leaves and huge seed heads like giant dandelions.; vs Agoseris: Agoseris has simple bristle pappus (like dandelions), not the notched silvery scales of Stebbinsoseris.; vs Chaetadelpha: Chaetadelpha has spine-tipped phyllaries and grows in desert washes, not grasslands.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stebbinsoseris decipiens native to California?
Yes. Stebbinsoseris decipiens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stebbinsoseris decipiens bloom?
Stebbinsoseris decipiens blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Stebbinsoseris decipiens grow?
Stebbinsoseris decipiens occurs in Marin, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Kings, at elevations of 10-500 m.
What plant family does Stebbinsoseris decipiens belong to?
Stebbinsoseris decipiens is in the Asteraceae family, genus Stebbinsoseris.
Is Stebbinsoseris decipiens rare or endangered?
Stebbinsoseris decipiens carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
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.