California Goldfield's (Lasthenia californica)

California Goldfields (Lasthenia californica) is a widespread species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family, among a number of species in the genus Lasthenia, all known by the common name goldfields. This species is native to a large part of California, Oregon, and surrounding areas, where it is a very common member of the flora in a number of habitat types.

This is an annual herb is quite variable in appearance across locations and climates. The leaves are hairy, somewhat linear in shape. Individuals growing along the coast may have fleshy leaves.

Atop the hairy stems are flower clusters of flower heads with hairy phyllaries (leaf-like structures at the base of the flower). The head contains many yellow disc florets with a fringe of small ray florets. Large populations of this species bloom at one time in the spring, producing the carpets of yellow on hillsides and in meadows that give the plant its common name. In the garden, it is most often grown from seed, which germinates readily.

From Calscape