San Diego wreathplant is a species that has apparently often been mistaken for tall stephanomeria or twiggy wreath-plant (Stephanomeria virgata).  In fact, evidence is accumulating that many of the plants formerly collected and identified as S. virgata, especially in coastal areas of Southern California, are actually this closely-related species (see Tom Chester's analyses).  Growing 10-30cm in height, although typically 20cm or shorter, this species is much-branched and puberulent.  The basal rosette of leaves are generally withered at time of anthesis, while the cauline leaves are small and linear, often absent at flowering.  The flowering heads are mostly in clusters at nodes either on the stems or at the ends of the ascending branches, and the phyllaries are either appressed or have their tips ascending to spreading.  The Jepson Manual says 6-8 flowers per head, but Tom has found 5-10 to be a better range, and the ligules are pale pink to whitish.  The sides of the fruit bear from 1-5 narrow longitudinal grooves, a feature that distinguishes diegensis from virgata, the seeds of which are ungrooved.  The pappus bristles are plumose from 70% to 90% of their length.  This species is apparently very common in much of Southern California probably growing to at least 2000', and occupies the Santa Monicas, the South Coast, the Peninsular Range and the West Transverse Range.  Its blooming time is about July to as late as February.  These pictures were taken in Chesebro Canyon and on the Santa Rosa Plateau.  Many of the errors in the floras regarding the characteristics of several of the Stephanomeria species are possibly due to their being based on limited herbarium specimens rather than statistical analysis of field specimens of the type that Tom has done.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Stephanomeria 2) diegensis.
Pronunciation: stef-an-oh-MEER-ee-a dee-ay-GEN-sis.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings.