About Limnanthes alba Hartw. ex Benth.
Limnanthes alba Hartw. ex Benth. is a species of flowering plant in the meadowfoam family, commonly known as white meadowfoam. It is native to California and Oregon, where it grows in wet grassy habitats including vernal pools and moist woodland areas, and it generally grows in poorly drained soils. This species is an annual herb that produces an erect or decumbent stem reaching up to around 30 centimeters in length. Its leaves are divided into several leaflets, which may be lobed or unlobed. The flowers are cup-shaped, with white petals that measure 1 to 1.5 centimeters long. This grassland wildflower is also grown through small-scale cultivation. It is the source of meadowfoam seed oil, which is one of the most stable known vegetable oils. The oil can be converted into waxes and lubricants, similar to whale oil. White meadowfoam is very susceptible to the Botrytis cinerea fungus, and commercial crops of this plant were devastated during the 1982 and 1984 growing seasons.
