Taxon Report

Lessingia micradenia Greene var. glabrata (Keck) Ferris

smooth lessingia

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Lessingia micradenia var. glabrata, commonly known as smooth lessingia, is a annual herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 120 to 420 meters. Lessingia micradenia var. glabrata is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Lessingia micradenia Greene var. glabrata (Keck) Ferris
Common Name:	smooth lessingia
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST5S062
USDA Plants Symbol:	LEMIG
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: (Apr-Jun)Jul-Nov	(Apr-Jun)Jul-Nov
Elevation:	120-420 (395-1380)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:	Roadsides (often), Serpentine
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G2T2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_BerrySB; SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	44
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	12
Good (B)	18
Fair (C)	4
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	10

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Santa Clara (SCL)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Gilroy (3712115), Gilroy Hot Springs (3712114), Loma Prieta (3712117), Los Gatos (3712128), Morgan Hill (3712126), Mt. Madonna (3712116), Mt. Sizer (3712125), San Jose East (3712137), Santa Teresa Hills (3712127)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	11
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	35	80 %
Non-native plant impacts	22	50%
Other	10	22%
Road/trail construction/maint.	10	22%
Foot traffic/trampling	8	18%
Grazing	8	18%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	6	13%
Development	4	9%
Feral pigs	3	6%
Waterway bank protection/maintenance	2	4%
Erosion/runoff	2	4%
ORV activity	1	2%

Notes



Potentially threatened by development and vehicles. Possibly threatened by non-native plants. See Aliso 4:105 (1958) for original description, and Contributions from the Dudley Herbarium 5:101 (1958) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 1 November 2025].