Taraxia ovata
Goldeneggs
(c) Irina Mitine, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Taraxia ovata (Goldeneggs) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by 0 sympatric species.
Goldeneggs is a California native perennial found in northwestern and central western California in grassy fields with clay soil at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces yellow flowers with petals 8 to 23 millimeters long, characterized by its slightly fleshy texture. Growing with erect stems reaching up to 15 centimeters tall, it develops narrowly elliptic to ovate leaves 30 to 150 millimeters long. Its leaves have distinctive short, erect hairs along the veins and margins, creating a textured appearance. The fruit develops as a linear-oblanceolate capsule 11 to 30 millimeters long, which becomes slightly swollen with seeds and has a papery texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners; 0 sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy fields, generally clay soil
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Sonoma, Marin, Santa Cruz, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo, Monterey, San Francisco, Napa, Lake, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt, Santa Clara, San Benito, Mendocino, Solano
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Taraxia ovata blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Camissoniopsis: Taraxia is perennial; Camissoniopsis is annual, dying after one growing season.; vs Camissonia: Taraxia fruits are cylindrical with thin bulging walls; Camissonia fruits are four-angled or coiled.; vs Oenothera: Taraxia has small flowers and cylindrical pods; Oenothera has large showy flowers and club-shaped pods.; vs Ranunculus: Taraxia has four-petaled flowers and cylindrical pods; Ranunculus has five petals and ball-shaped seed heads.; vs Viola: Taraxia has flowers on tall stems above leaves; Viola has flowers among leaves with distinctive spurred petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Taraxia ovata native to California?
Yes. Taraxia ovata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Taraxia ovata bloom?
Taraxia ovata blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Taraxia ovata grow?
Taraxia ovata occurs in Sonoma, Marin, Santa Cruz, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo, Monterey, San Francisco and other counties, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Taraxia ovata belong to?
Taraxia ovata is in the Onagraceae family, genus Taraxia.
What habitat does Taraxia ovata grow in?
Taraxia ovata grows in Grassy fields, generally clay soil.
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.