{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{redirect|California goldfields||California Gold Rush}} {{Speciesbox |image = Lasthenia californica.jpg |genus = Lasthenia |species = californica |authority = DC. ex Lindl. }}

'''''Lasthenia californica''''' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name '''California goldfields'''. It is native to western North America.

==Description== ''L. californica'' is an annual herb approaching a maximum height near {{Convert|40|cm|abbr=off}}, but generally staying much smaller. The plant is quite variable in appearance across subspecies and climates. The leaves are hairy, somewhat linear in shape, and about {{Convert|1-7|cm|abbr=on|frac=8}} long.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Spellenberg |first=Richard |url=https://archive.org/details/nationalaudubons00spel/page/382/ |title=National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region |publisher=Knopf |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-375-40233-3 |edition=rev |pages=382 |orig-date=1979}}</ref> Individuals growing along the coast may have fleshy leaves.

Between March and May, the hairy stems are topped by inflorescences of flower heads, {{Convert|2-2.5|cm|abbr=on|frac=8}} across,<ref name=":0" /> with hairy phyllaries. The head contains many yellow disc florets with a fringe of about 10 small ray florets.<ref name=":0" /> Large populations of this species bloom at once in the spring to produce the carpets of yellow on hillsides and in meadows that give the plant its common name. The seed sometimes has brownish scales at the tip.<ref name=":0" />

''Crocidium multicaule'' is similar in appearance, but most of its leaves are in a basal rosette, with alternate leaves on the stem.<ref name=":0" />

{{gallery|mode=packed |Goldfields 2 (919609839).jpg|Goldfields (with a few California poppies) |California Goldfields, Lasthenia californica.jpg|Antelope Valley California Poppy&nbsp;Reserve |Lasthenia californica in Fremont, California.jpg|Close-up of flowers in Fremont,&nbsp;California }}

==Taxonomy== The species is placed by some in the genus ''Baeria''.<ref name=":0" />

==Distribution and habitat== The plant can be found in California, Oregon, Arizona and Baja California. It thrives in open fields and slopes at low elevations, especially in poor grassless soils with adequate moisture.<ref name=":0" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Lasthenia californica}} *[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?609,1483,1485 Jepson Manual Treatment: ''Lasthenia californica''] *[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=4577 Calflora-Lasthenia californica] *[https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LACA7 USDA Plants Profile — ''Lasthenia californica'' (California Goldfields)] *[http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Lasthenia+californica ''Lasthenia californica'' (California Goldfields) — U.C. Photo gallery]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q6494951}}

californica Category:Flora of California Category:Flora of Oregon Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status

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