Common name(s): California Spineflower

Family: Polygonaceae - Buckwheat family

Species: Mucronea californica

Commonly found: Stabilized dunes

Size: Up to 2 feet tall

Origin: Non-invasive, endemic to California.

Description: The Calfornia Spineflower is a rare native annual herb that grows in southern and central California. The leaves at the base of the plant are reverse egg-shaped. The leaves that surround the plant's flowers have 3 lobes and each lobe is spine-tipped. The flowers are white to pink and bloom from June to August. The leaves are green, red, or brown. The plant typically grows low to the ground and varies widely in appearance throughout the year.