Stylocline micropoides
Desert neststraw, woollyhead fanbract, Woollyhead Fanbract
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Stylocline micropoides (Desert neststraw) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by longest leaves and leaf-to-head ratio.
Desert neststraw is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada, northern and eastern Mojave Desert, and Sonoran Desert regions in generally stable sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 70 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces small whitish flowers in woolly, spheric heads approximately 5 to 9 millimeters in diameter. Growing with delicate stems 2 to 14 centimeters tall, it forms compact, low-growing clusters across desert landscapes. Its leaves are distinctive, with the largest distal leaves 11 to 17 millimeters long and 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters wide, typically awl-shaped to lanceolate with acute, mucronate tips. The fruit is compressed laterally, small, and measures 1 to 1.4 millimeters long with 2 to 5 disk pappus bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinguished by longest leaves and leaf-to-head ratio
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally stable sand or gravel, often rock bases or drip lines
Elevation: 70-1600 m
Outside California: to southern Utah, western Texas, northern-most Mexico
Bloom period
Stylocline micropoides blooms Feb-May.
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 micropoides native to California?
Yes. Stylocline micropoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stylocline micropoides bloom?
Stylocline micropoides blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Stylocline micropoides belong to?
Stylocline micropoides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Stylocline.
What habitat does Stylocline micropoides grow in?
Stylocline micropoides grows in Generally stable sand or gravel, often rock bases or drip lines.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.