Foothill sunburst, brittlestem

Monolopia heermannii Durand, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, n. s. 3: 93. 1855

Plants to 30 cm. Leaves 10–30 mm, mostly 1-pinnately lobed (lobes 0.5–1.5 mm wide), distal sometimes entire. Peduncles 20–50 mm. Phyllaries ± 8, connate to ¹/2 their lengths, elliptic to lanceolate (each pair with semicircular crest proximal to sinus, hard at maturity, ± enclosing cypselae). Ray florets ± 8. Disc florets 8–25+; tubes cylindric, abruptly dilated (throats broadly funnelform), lobes glabrous. Cypselae 2–2.5 mm. 2n = 6 + 0–2I, 8 + 0–1I or 0–1B, 10 + 0–1I.

Flowering Mar–Jun. Grasslands or sandy or rocky openings in chaparral, foothill woodlands, yellow pine forests; 100–1600 m; Calif.