meadowfoam

Limnanthes alba Hartw. ex Benth.

Limnanthes alba, known as meadowfoam, is a species of flowering plant in the Limnanthaceae family. It is native to California and Oregon, where it thrives in wet grassy habitats such as vernal pools and moist woodlands, typically in poorly drained soils. This annual herb has an erect or decumbent stem up to 30 centimeters long. Its leaves are divided into lobed or unlobed leaflets, and it produces cup-shaped white flowers with petals 1 to 1.5 centimeters long.

Description

Limnanthes alba, Hartw. ex Benth., is a member of the Limnanthaceae family and is commonly called meadowfoam. It is found in California and Oregon, growing in wet grassy areas like vernal pools and woodland moist spots. The plant is an annual with an upright or sprawling stem reaching up to 30 cm in length. The leaves are divided into multiple lobed or unlobed leaflets. The flowers are white, cup-shaped, and have petals measuring 1 to 1.5 cm in length. The species was first described in 1849.