Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium
Five needled thymophylla
(c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium (Five needled thymophylla) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Key differences: habitat (desert vs coastal), elevation, leaf division, ray length.
Five needled thymophylla is a California native perennial found in eastern San Diego County, eastern San Jacinto Mountains, eastern Mojave Desert, southeastern Desert Mountains, and western Sonoran Desert in dry roadsides, gravelly slopes, desert scrub, and desert woodland at elevations of 450 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from April to June and September to October, this plant produces yellow ray flowers with small heads approximately 3.5 to 6 millimeters wide. Growing with many slender, very leafy stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms dense clusters of delicate vegetation. Its leaves are finely divided into 3 to 5 linear lobes, each 1 to 2 centimeters long and slightly hairy. The fruit is small, 2 to 3 millimeters long, with a distinctive pappus of 10 scales that are partially divided into fine awns.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key differences: habitat (desert vs coastal), elevation, leaf division, ray length
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry roadsides, gravelly slopes, desert scrub, desert woodland
Elevation: 450-1700 m
Outside California: to Texas, northern Mexico, southern South America
Bloom period
Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium blooms (Mar)Apr-Jun, Sep--Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Glebionis: Thymophylla has stiff needle-like leaf segments; Glebionis has broad, flat lobed leaves.; vs Pentachaeta: Thymophylla leaves are divided into needles; Pentachaeta has entire linear leaves.; vs Ericameria: Thymophylla has prominent yellow ray flowers; Ericameria rays are tiny or absent.; vs Eriophyllum: Thymophylla leaves are stiff needles; Eriophyllum leaves are woolly-soft and lobed.; vs Lasthenia: Thymophylla is a woody perennial with needle leaves; Lasthenia is annual with smooth entire leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium native to California?
Yes. Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium bloom?
Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium blooms (Mar)Apr-Jun, Sep--Oct.
What plant family does Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium belong to?
Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium is in the Asteraceae family, genus Thymophylla.
What habitat does Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium grow in?
Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium grows in dry roadsides, gravelly slopes, desert scrub, desert 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.