Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Chorizanthe robusta is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family. It is endemic to California, where it is a rare, federally listed endangered species. C. robusta is variable in form, growing decumbent or erect and reaching a maximum length of half a meter. It is grayish in color and hairy. The inflorescence is made up of several flowers with each flower surrounded by white or pink bracts with hooked tips. The flower itself is just a few millimeters long and white to pink in color. Varieties: It is composed of two varieties:var. robusta, known generally as the robust spineflower, which is known only from southern Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties,var. hartwegii, the Scotts Valley spineflower, which is known from a few locations in Scotts Valley in Santa Cruz County. The plant is closely related to Chorizanthe pungens, another rare endemic from the area.

Plant type

Annual herb

Calscape icon
Color

Pink, White

Plant communities

Coastal Strand, Foothill Woodland, Northern Coastal Scrub, Valley Grassland

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 1 likely

Confirmed Likely