Stephanomeria virgata
Rod wirelettuce
(c) Jerry Kirkhart, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Stephanomeria virgata (Rod wirelettuce) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Rod wirelettuce is a California native annual found in various bioregions in open grasslands and disturbed areas. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces white to dark pink flowers in small clusters along slender branches. Growing with a single stem up to two meters tall, it develops wand-like branches that create an open, delicate structure. Its basal leaves quickly wither during flowering, while stem leaves become reduced to small bract-like structures. The fruit is smooth to slightly bumpy, with white feathery pappus bristles that easily detach.
How to tell it apart
vs Cichorium: Stephanomeria has pink-lavender flowers; chicory has bright blue flowers that close by noon; vs Malacothrix: Stephanomeria has pink-lavender flowers; Malacothrix has yellow or white flowers; vs Epilobium: Stephanomeria has dandelion-like composite flowers; Epilobium has 4-petaled simple flowers; vs Lactuca: Stephanomeria has small pink heads on wiry stems; Lactuca has yellow/blue flowers on leafy stems; vs Rafinesquia: Stephanomeria has pink-lavender flowers; Rafinesquia has white or cream flowers
Frequently asked questions
Is Stephanomeria virgata native to California?
Yes. Stephanomeria virgata is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Stephanomeria virgata belong to?
Stephanomeria virgata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Stephanomeria.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Stephanomeria virgata subsp. pleurocarpa
- Stephanomeria virgata subsp. virgata
- Stephanomeria cichoriacea — Silver rock-lettuce
- Stephanomeria diegensis — San diego milk aster
- Stephanomeria elata — Annual mitra
- Stephanomeria exigua — Small wirelettuce
- Stylocline citroleum — Oil neststraw
- Stylocline gnaphaloides — Everlasting neststraw
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.