Lepidospartum squamatum

Lepidospartum squamatum is native to the mountains, valleys, and deserts of central and southern California, and Baja California. It grows in sandy, gravelly soils in a number of habitat types, especially dry alluvial habitat such as arroyos.[1] It is considered an indicator species for the alluvial scrub habitat type in this region.[1][2] It is also commonly found in neighboring Arizona.[3]

Lepidospartum squamatum is a large shrub often exceeding two meters in height which takes a spreading, rounded form, its branches are coated in woolly fibers and stubby leaves no more than 3 millimeters long.

The inflorescence is a single flower head or small cluster of up to 5 heads at the ends of branches. The heads are discoid, bearing many yellow tubular disc florets and no ray florets. The fruit is a narrow achene a few millimeters long with a dull white to light brown pappus on top. While in bloom, scale broom will attract a wide variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, and tarantula hawk wasps.

As the fruits mature and the flower parts fall away the inflorescence takes on a cottony look due to all the pappi.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lepidospartum squamatum.

• Jepson Manual Treatment — Lepidospartum squamatum
• Flora of North America
• Lepidospartum squamatum — Photo gallery