Contra Costa goldfields
ExplorePlants
Contra Costa goldfields
Lasthenia conjugens
Contra Costa goldfields are bright yellow flowers that bloom in the spring. They grow in sunny places and are a special sight in California's grasslands.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Contra Costa goldfields has brilliant, golden-yellow flower heads, each resembling a tiny sunflower, atop slender stems. Its bright, abundant blooms often create a carpet of gold in grassy fields. Unlike many similar yellow flowers, its ray florets are often broad and overlap, giving a very full look.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusLasthenia
Category
PlantsRarity
Rare
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Each bright 'flower' is actually many tiny flowers grouped together, like a mini bouquet!
Goldfields prefer vernal pools, which are temporary wetlands that dry up in summer.
Its name honors Contra Costa County, where scientists first formally identified this rare beauty.
These tiny flowers are critically endangered, found in only a few special spots in California!
Special abilities
Ability
Tolerant Toughness
Contra Costa goldfields can grow in heavy clay soils that are too harsh for many other plants, helping it survive in specific locations.
Ability
Ephemeral Bloom
Contra Costa goldfields has a very short, intense blooming period that helps it quickly complete its life cycle before summer drought arrives.
Ability
Seed Bank Secret
Contra Costa goldfields can keep its seeds dormant in the soil for years, waiting for perfect rain conditions to sprout.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-30 cm
- Spread
- 5-15 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring (March-May)
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
Bombus vosnesenskii
Visits flowers for nectar and pollen, aiding reproduction.
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Gathers nectar and pollen, transferring it between flowers.
eats
Botta's Pocket Gopher
Thomomys bottae
May consume roots and underground parts of the plant.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Enjoy looking at flowers, but don't pick them so others can enjoy them too!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Contra Costa goldfields?
5-30 cm
How wide does Contra Costa goldfields spread?
5-15 cm
How big are the flowers on Contra Costa goldfields?
1-2 cm
When does Contra Costa goldfields bloom?
Spring (March-May)
Is Contra Costa goldfields edible?
No
Is Contra Costa goldfields toxic?
None
What is Contra Costa goldfields's lifecycle?
Annual
How is Contra Costa goldfields pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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