Leather spineflower

Description

Lastarriaea coriacea is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family known by the common name leather spineflower. It is native to California and adjacent northern Mexico where it is a common plant of many habitat types. This is an annual herb forming a patch of stems growing flat on the ground or rising slightly to a maximum height near 15 centimeters. The small leaves are located basally, where the stems emerge from the ground. They are generally hairy and linear in shape, and not more than 3 centimeters long. The stems branch into wide inflorescences bearing pointed bracts and flowers with spiky awns.