California rabbit-tobacco

Gnaphalium californicum de Candolle in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 6: 224. 1838; G. decurrens Ives var. californicum (de Candolle) A. Gray

Annuals, biennials, or perennials, 20–40 cm; taprooted. Stems stipitate-glandular, sometimes lightly villous as well. Leaf blades mostly narrowly oblong-lanceolate, 4–10 cm × 5–10(–20) mm (relatively even-sized distally), bases auriculate-clasping to subclasping or not, decurrent (2–10 mm) or not, margins flat or slightly revolute, faces concolor, mostly green, stipitate-glandular, viscid, sometimes lightly villous as well. Heads in corymbiform arrays. Involucres campanulo-globose, 5.5–7 mm. Phyllaries in 7–10 series, white (opaque, shiny or dull), broadly ovate to oblong-obovate, glabrous. Pistillate florets 105–140. Bisexual florets 7–12. Cypselae ridged, smooth. 2n = 28.

Flowering Apr–Jul. Sandy canyons, dry hills, coastal chaparral; 60–800 m; Calif., Oreg.; Mexico (Baja California).

Leaf insertion in Pseudognaphalium californicum is unusually variable: bases may be clasping to subclasping without decurrent margins or decurrent and not show any clasping tendency.