Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha
Photo: parent species Triphysaria eriantha · (c) Justin Johnsen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by yellow corolla vs. white/pink relatives.
Yellow-eyed grass is a California native annual found in coastal, north coastal, central California, California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Great Valley, Central Western, Peninsular Ranges, and Modoc Plateau bioregions in grasslands and foothill habitats at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from March to May, this delicate plant produces bright yellow flowers with distinctive corolla coloration. Growing slender and low to the ground, it reaches heights of approximately 10 to 30 centimeters with thin, branching stems. Its leaves are narrow and linear, arranged alternately along the stem, contributing to its subtle grassland appearance. The tiny yellow flowers emerge in small clusters, blending softly into its grassy surroundings.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; key feature is yellow corolla vs. white/pink relatives
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, foothills
Elevation: < 1600 m
California counties: Tulare, Butte, Sacramento, Lake, El Dorado, San Joaquin, Placer, San Luis Obispo, Amador, Calaveras, Solano, Yuba, Fresno, Merced, Humboldt, Santa Clara, Shasta, Tehama, Nevada, Glenn, Kern, Alameda, Sonoma, Sutter, Mariposa, Monterey, Del Norte, Mendocino, Contra Costa, Colusa, Madera, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, San Mateo, Napa, Santa Cruz, Marin, San Diego, San Francisco, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Lassen, Yolo
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Castilleja: Triphysaria has sharp throat fold above lower lip; Castilleja has smooth throat without fold.; vs Linaria: Triphysaria has open beak with throat fold; Linaria has closed tube with spur projecting backward.; vs Trifolium: Triphysaria has tubular two-lipped flowers; Trifolium has round heads of pea-like flowers with three leaflets.; vs Bellardia: Triphysaria has throat fold and yellow-white flowers; Bellardia lacks throat fold and has purple-yellow flowers.; vs Orthocarpus: Triphysaria has open beak with throat fold; Orthocarpus has closed hood completely covering stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha native to California?
Yes. Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha bloom?
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha grow?
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha occurs in Tulare, Butte, Sacramento, Lake, El Dorado, San Joaquin, Placer, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of < 1600 m.
What plant family does Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha belong to?
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Triphysaria.
What habitat does Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha grow in?
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. eriantha grows in Grassland, foothills.
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.