Eryngium aristulatum, known by the common names California eryngo and Jepson's button celery, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae.

Distribution

This plant is native to California and Baja California where it grows in wet places, such as vernal pools and flooded meadows. It is found in coast redwood forest, California mixed evergreen forest, California foothill oak woodland, yellow pine forest, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, coastal salt marsh, and wetland-riparian habitats.

Description

Eryngium aristulatum is a perennial herb with erect, rounded, naked stems, occasionally branching and reaching anywhere from 10 cm to nearly 1 m in height. Leaves appear near the base and at nodes along the stem and are long and serrated to toothed. The inflorescence holds rounded flowers with five to eight long, straight, spiky bracts which often have spiny edges and may grow nearly 3 centimeters long. The flower contains white petals and white or purple styles. The blooming period is June through August.

Varieties

Named varieties include: