Rafinesquia californica

California Chicory.

Seen blooming on Jesusita trail in early April and on the back side of Arroyo Burro trail in June.

Most leaves at base, with very few on the stems.

For a long time I confused this with Cliff aster. While the flowers look very similar from the top, from the side they are completely different with the involucres much longer in this species. The plant also looks different, this species has a single stem and is an annual while Cliff Aster usually has a tangle of woody stems. This species has few widely-lobed leaves generally near the base while Cliff aster has a great profusion of simple leaves. In the front country, Cliff Aster is by far the more common of the two.