Xylorhiza cognata

Mecca-aster

Family: Asteraceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Mecca-aster is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in the southern desert regions of Imperial and Riverside counties in arid canyons and creosote-bush scrub at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from January to July, this plant produces lavender or light blue ray flowers with 20 to 30 rays extending 1.8 to 2.5 centimeters long. Growing as a compact shrub up to 1.5 meters tall with branches spread throughout and generally short-glandular stems, it develops a somewhat ill-scented structure. Its leaves range from 1 to 5 centimeters long, appearing oblanceolate to ovate with obtuse or acute tips, sometimes featuring spiny-dentate edges. The plant produces fruit 3 to 4.5 millimeters long with pappus bristles up to 9.5 millimeters in length.

Habitat: Arid canyons, washes; creosote-bush scrub

Bloom period: Jan-Jul

Elevation: < 400 m

Bioregions: DSon (Imperial, Riverside cos.).

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.