''Lasthenia californica'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name California goldfields. It is native to western

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

Description

''L. californica'' is an annual herb approaching a maximum height near , but generally staying much smaller. The plant is quite variable in appearance across

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

and climates. The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are hairy, somewhat linear in shape, and about long. Individuals growing along the coast may have fleshy leaves. Between March and May, the hairy stems are topped by inflorescences of

flower heads A pseudanthium (Greek for "false flower"; ) is an inflorescence that resembles a flower. The word is sometimes used for other structures that are neither a true flower nor a true inflorescence. Examples of pseudanthia include flower heads, compos ...

, across, with hairy phyllaries. The head contains many yellow disc florets with a fringe of about 10 small ray florets. Large populations of this species bloom at once in the spring to produce the carpets of yellow on hillsides and in meadows that give the plant its common name. The seed sometimes has brownish scales at the tip. ''

Crocidium multicaule ''Crocidium multicaule'' is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name spring gold. Description ''Crocidium multicaule'' is a small annual, typically not exceeding in height when in flower. It grows from a low s ...

'' is similar in appearance, but most of its leaves are in a basal rosette, with alternate leaves on the stem.

Taxonomy

The species is placed by some in the genus ''Baeria''.

Distribution and habitat

The plant can be found in California, Oregon, Arizona and Baja California. It thrives in open fields and slopes at low elevations, especially in poor grassless soils with adequate moisture.

References

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment: ''Lasthenia californica''Calflora-Lasthenia californicaUSDA Plants Profile — ''Lasthenia californica'' (California Goldfields)''Lasthenia californica'' (California Goldfields) — U.C. Photo gallery
californica Flora of California Flora of Oregon Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Madieae-stub