Favoritos de pleistocene

Involucre tubes 3mm

~30 plants in a 5x5’ square

Verdugo Mountains, Canyon Hills Project site

Further discussion of the same plant:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/159568769#activity_comment_63b343fa-bb30-4dcd-8387-9ef0df385fe4

Finally confirmed this. Growing at low elevation site on clay/shale; mesic slope in CSS with abundant spring wildflowers, incl. Collinsia, Phacelia distans, Castilleja affinis, Madia gracilis, etc.

Matches description in Prigge and Gibson (2013). Perennial herb, hollow fleshy stems emerging from central base. Keel like other albifrons - flattish with cilia along distal half. Whitish “coating” to stems and leaves giving distinctive look (pale appressed hairs) and soft to touch. Very large leaves/leaflets.

These plants all emerged in the past month or so and only small/low shoots were present over winter, most invisible to someone just walking by.