Common linanthus or false babystars is a slender, decumbent to erect, pubescent annual growing from 2" to 12" tall.  The leaves are opposite and parted into 5-9 linear or filiform segments making them appear whorled.  The flowers are in a densely-tufted terminal umbel subtended by leaflike bracts.  Each flower has a salverform corolla with a long narrow tube, white, cream-colored, pale lilac to pink and yellowish at the base.  There are five sepals, five petals, five exserted stamens with prominent yellow to orange anthers and a single conspicuously exserted pistil divided into three stigmas. Also comes in a yellow form as in the last picture which is from the Laguna Mts. Common linanthus is abundant in open and wooded areas and grassy meadows in chaparral, coastal sage scrub and southern oak woodland to 4500', blooming from April to May.  It is a variable species, especially with regard to corolla color.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Leptosiphon 2) parviflorus.
Pronunciation: lep-toe-SY-fon par-vi-FLOR-us.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings.
Formerly Linanthus parviflorus.