tidy tips

Layia platyglossa

The distinct white tips on its yellow petals act as a visual 'nectar guide' to direct pollinating insects straight to the flower's center.

Scientific name: Layia platyglossa
Taxonomy: Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Asterales › Asteraceae › Layia
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: grassland
Habitat: Coastal sage scrub, valleys, and foothill grasslands.
Diet: Photosynthetic (sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and soil minerals).
Range: California, Arizona, Baja California
Size: 10 to 60 cm (4 to 24 inches) in height
Lifespan: 1 year (annual)
Active: diurnal
Threats: Invasive non-native grasses, urban development, and agricultural expansion.
Safe to approach?: Harmless. These beautiful wildflowers are safe to approach, photograph, and admire closely. Avoid stepping on them to protect their delicate stems. If touched, they are non-toxic, but it is best to leave them undisturbed for local pollinators.

Layia platyglossa , commonly called coastal tidytips , is an annual wildflower of the Asteraceae Family, native to western North America.

Photo: Franco Folini, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist