Large, oval, 5-7 in. clasping leaves on long stems arise from the base of the plant. The plant is propagated chiefly by stolons, above ground runners which root at the nodes. Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Laguna Niguel, Orange County, CA. 5-23-10. © Joan Avise.

Yerba Mansa

Anemopsis californica

The only local member of the Saururaceae (lizard tail family); native to the southwestern US and n. Mexico. This is a very small family with only 7 species worldwide. Saururaceae and Lauraceae are our only families in the Magnoliophyta-Magnoliid Clade, a more primitive group of flowering plants than monocots and dicots.

A hairy, colonial, perennial herb, reaching 2 ft. high; widespread but patchy in permanent alkaline meadows and seeps at San Joaquin Marsh, Bolsa Chica, UCI Freshwater Marsh, along Big Canyon trail, Upper Newport Bay, Crystal Cove, Shipley Nature Center and Aliso Canyon.

During maturation, individual flowers crowd together to form a thick solid capsular structure which can be carried along on a stream of water.  A small slit in each of the hundreds of fruits opens allowing the seeds to fall free as the capsule floats along (Clarke). The seeds taste similar to black pepper, to which this plant is closely related. Flowering time - Mar. - Sept. Uses (from Wikipedia)

Back to Saururaceae of Orange County, California
Back to Magnoliids of Orange County, California
Back to Natural History of Orange County, California


Maturing flowers. The numerous small, crowded, unstalked flowers are each subtended by a small white bract. There are no sepals or petals; 5-8 stamens; 2-3 stigmas. Bolsa Chica Wetlands, Huntington Beach, CA. 5-20-07. © Joan Avise.

The conical  white 'flowers' (actually reduced inflorescences, or pseudanthia
- a special type of inflorescence in which several flowers are grouped together
to form a flower-like structure as seen in the Asteraceae) are borne in early
spring, and are  surrounded by a ring of 5-9 large white petal-like bracts at
the base.  Bolsa Chica Wetlands, Huntington Beach, CA. 5-20-07. © Joan Avise.

Maturing flowers. Bolsa Chica Wetlands, Huntington Beach, CA. 5-20-07. © Joan Avise.

As it matures, the visible part of the plant develops red stains, eventually turning bright red in the fall.Bolsa Chica Wetlands, Huntington Beach, CA. 5-20-07. © Joan Avise.

Flowers age from white to red. Bolsa Chica Wetlands, Huntington Beach, CA. 5-20-07. © Joan Avise.

Big Canyon, Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, CA. 6-14-09. © Joan Avise.

Shipley Nature Center, Huntington Central Park, Huntington Beach, CA. 5-22-10. © Joan Avise.

Petal-like white bracts. Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 6-14-09. © Joan Avise.

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Laguna Niguel, Orange County, CA. 5-23-10. © Joan Avise.

Aliso Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 8/24/13. © Peter J. Bryant

Aliso Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 8/24/13. © Peter J. Bryant

Aliso Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 8/24/13. © Peter J. Bryant