Stylocline citroleum
Oil neststraw
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Stylocline citroleum (Oil neststraw) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by head size, hairiness, and leaf width.
Oil neststraw is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern San Joaquin Valley and southern coastal California (now extirpated) in open, stable sandy or clay areas and dry drainage edges at elevations of 60 to 300 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces small, woolly spherical heads with dull flowers 4 to 5.5 millimeters in diameter. Growing as a compact plant 2 to 9 centimeters tall with delicate stems, it develops relatively small leaves that are elliptic to widely oblanceolate, measuring 4 to 12 millimeters long. Its leaves are slightly acute with a small point (mucronate), with the largest distal leaves 2 to 3.5 millimeters wide. The fruit is compressed laterally, approximately 0.8 to 1 millimeter long, with 6 to 12 tiny disk pappus bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by head size, hairiness, and leaf width
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, stable, often crusted sand, clay, dry drainage edges, between
Elevation: 60-300 m
California counties: Kern, San Diego
Bloom period
Stylocline citroleum blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Logfia: Stylocline completely lacks pappus; Logfia has fluffy white bristles on both flower types.; vs Psilocarphus: Stylocline has alternate leaves (may appear whorled); Psilocarphus has truly opposite leaves.; vs Micropus: Stylocline lacks prominent petal-like bracts; Micropus has 4-6 conspicuous spoon-shaped outer bracts.; vs Eriophyllum: Stylocline forms low woolly mats; Eriophyllum has upright stems with showy yellow flowers.; vs Gnaphalium: Stylocline has tiny heads hidden in dense leaf clusters; Gnaphalium has elongated heads on visible stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stylocline citroleum native to California?
Yes. Stylocline citroleum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stylocline citroleum bloom?
Stylocline citroleum blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Stylocline citroleum grow?
Stylocline citroleum occurs in Kern, San Diego, at elevations of 60-300 m.
What plant family does Stylocline citroleum belong to?
Stylocline citroleum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Stylocline.
Is Stylocline citroleum rare or endangered?
Stylocline citroleum carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S3.
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.