Tauschia arguta
Southern tauschia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Tauschia arguta (Southern tauschia) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by stem height relative to leaves and fruit characteristics.
Southern tauschia is a California native perennial found in the southern Coast Ranges and southwestern California in chaparral and woodland habitats at elevations of 100 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces yellow flowers in delicate, spreading clusters with unequal rays extending 2 to 12 centimeters. Growing 3 to 7 decimeters tall with stems generally taller than its leaves, it has a distinctively glabrous appearance. Its leaves feature a large petiole up to 20 centimeters long, with complex pinnate blades 8 to 16 centimeters long containing 3 to 8 sharply dentate leaflets. The fruit is an oblong structure 6 to 9 millimeters long with acute, prominent ribs and 3 to 5 oil tubes between each rib interval.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by stem height relative to leaves and fruit characteristics
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, woodland
Elevation: 100-1500 m
California counties: Ventura, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Imperial
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Tauschia arguta blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Lomatium: Tauschia has leaf-like bracts longer than flower stalks; Lomatium bracts are shorter or absent.; vs Sanicula: Tauschia flowers are yellow in open umbels; Sanicula flowers are tiny greenish in tight heads.; vs Sambucus: Tauschia has divided carrot-family leaves; Sambucus has pinnate leaves and is a shrub.; vs Angelica: Tauschia flowers are yellow; Angelica flowers are white or greenish.; vs Foeniculum: Tauschia has broader leaflets; Foeniculum has hair-fine, fragrant, feathery foliage.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tauschia arguta native to California?
Yes. Tauschia arguta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Tauschia arguta bloom?
Tauschia arguta blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Tauschia arguta grow?
Tauschia arguta occurs in Ventura, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of 100-1500 m.
What plant family does Tauschia arguta belong to?
Tauschia arguta is in the Apiaceae family, genus Tauschia.
What habitat does Tauschia arguta grow in?
Tauschia arguta grows in Chaparral, woodland.
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.