About Helianthella californica A.Gray
Helianthella californica A.Gray is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, commonly known as California helianthella. This wildflower is native to mountain regions of California, northwestern Nevada, and southwestern Oregon. It is a taprooted perennial herb that grows erect stems reaching up to approximately 60 centimeters, or 2 feet, in height. It produces many lance-shaped leaves that grow up to 26 centimeters (11 inches) long and up to 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) wide, with smooth or slightly toothed edges. Its inflorescence bears one or more sunflower-like flower heads. Each flower head has a center of golden disc florets with purple or reddish parts, surrounded by a fringe of yellow ray florets that measure 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long. Three subspecies are recognized: Helianthella californica subsp. californica, found in the Coast Ranges near San Francisco Bay and in a small number of populations in the northern Sierra Nevada Foothills; Helianthella californica subsp. nevadensis (Greene) W.A.Weber, found in the Sierra Nevada and Cascades across California, Nevada, and Oregon; and Helianthella californica subsp. shastensis (W.A.Weber) W.A.Weber, found in the southern Cascades and the Shasta-Trinity area.
