Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest along the coast in Washington; Vancouver Island, B.C. south along the coast to California.

Habitat: Maritime species of coastal bluffs, meadows, and balds.

Flowers: March-May

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Endangered in Washington (WANHP)

Pollination: Bees, flies, moths

Taprooted perennial, the stem much branched at the base into prostrate or ascending branches 5-30 cm. long.

Leaves mostly basal, rosette-forming, somewhat yellowish, broadly petioled, the blade 2.5-6. cm. long and 2.5-9 cm. wide, 3-cleft, the primary segments toothed or cleft, the terminal larger than the lateral, which angle forward; cauline leaves few and reduced, opposite and each subtending a branch.

Inflorescence of several head-like, ultimate umbels terminating the branches, yellow, about 1 cm. wide when flowering; umbels subtended by a prominent involucre of 8-17 oblanceolate, entire or tri-lobed bracts 5-15 mm. long; ultimate umbels 20- to 25-flowered, with about equal numbers of perfect and staminate flowers; calyx lobes ovate, acute, soft, 1-2 mm. long, attached to each other below the middle.

Fruit ovoid to sub-globose, 2-5 mm. long and 2-3 mm. wide, covered above with stout, recurved prickles.