Rod Wirelettuce
Stephanomeria virgata
ABOUT
Plants in the Stephanomeria family can be difficult to appreciate from a distance, but if you get a little closer there’s a lot to enjoy.
First off, these plants only appear in the peak of summer, when many other spring California annuals have withered away and the perennials have gone crispy and dormant. It’s in this moment that this plant decides to shoot out of the ground and enjoy the intense summer heat and blinding sun.
Because sunlight and heat are abundant, this plant decides to forego leaves altogether, and simply photosynthesize from its stalk & stems alone.
