Stebbinsoseris decipiens

Santa cruz microseris

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

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.

Habitat: Open, sandy, shaly, or serpentine sites, coastal

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 10-500 m

Bioregions: n&ampc CCo.

California counties: Marin, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Kings

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