Stephanomeria paniculata

Stiff branched stephanomeria

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Native

Stiff branched stephanomeria is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in sandy or volcanic soils, plains, and foothills at elevations of 200 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces pale lavender flowers in small panicle-like clusters with heads 6 to 9 millimeters long. Growing 20 to 100 centimeters tall with a single stem and stiff branches spreading nearly at right angles, it creates a distinctive angular growth pattern. Its leaves are primarily basal and wither by flowering time, with cauline leaves reduced to bract-like structures. The fruit features tan, plumose pappus bristles that are widened at the base and partially fused in groups.

Habitat: Sandy or volcanic soils, plains, foothills, roadsides

Bloom period: Jun-Oct

Elevation: 200-1400 m

Bioregions: KR, CaRH, n SN, MP

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