Tauschia howellii
Howell's tauschia
(c) Parker James Lloyd, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Tauschia howellii (Howell's tauschia) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by extreme habitat specialization and size make it distinctive.
Howell's tauschia is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the Salmon Mountains and northern Sierra Nevada in granitic gravel and ridge tops at elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to July, this delicate plant produces yellow flowers in small, intricate umbels with distinctively divided bractlets. Growing with extremely short stems less than 5 to 8 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters close to the ground. Its finely divided leaves feature 1-pinnate or 1-ternate blades with 5 to 15 millimeter leaflets that are oblong to ovate with irregular sharp teeth. The small fruit measures 2 to 4 millimeters long with thread-like ribs and several oil tubes between each rib.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; extreme habitat specialization and size make it distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Granitic gravel, ridge tops,
Elevation: 2000-2500 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Sierra
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Tauschia howellii blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 howellii native to California?
Yes. Tauschia howellii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Tauschia howellii bloom?
Tauschia howellii blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Tauschia howellii grow?
Tauschia howellii occurs in Siskiyou, Sierra, at elevations of 2000-2500 m.
What plant family does Tauschia howellii belong to?
Tauschia howellii is in the Apiaceae family, genus Tauschia.
Is Tauschia howellii rare or endangered?
Tauschia howellii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2S3.
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.