Subshrubs 3–15 dm.
Stems woody near bases.
Leaves cauline, 2–5 cm, surfaces abaxially densely white-tomentose, adaxially glabrous or lightly tomentose; sessile or short-petiolate.
Heads numerous in tight clusters; peduncles 0.3–5 cm, woolly-tomentose.
Involucres 5–8 mm.
Phyllaries in 2–3 series, lance-linear, woolly-tomentose.
Ray florets (0)5–9; corollas 3–5 mm, yellow.
Disc florets 25–40.
Fruits 3–4 mm, brown; pappi of 8–12 scales, ~1 mm.
2n=30.
Coastal bluffs and dunes, shrublands, roadsides. Flowering Jun–Jul. 0–50 m. Est. CA. Native.
The species name is sometimes mistakenly spelled stoechadifolium. A form with entire leaves occurs in California.
as described under Eriophyllum staechadifolium
Subshrubs, 30-150 cm. Stems ± erect. Leaves (proximal usually alternate, sometimes opposite): blades linear, lanceolate, or ovate, 3-7 cm, usually 1-2-pinnately lobed, ultimate margins entire or toothed, revolute, abaxial faces white-woolly, adaxial glabrate (distal leaves usually similar). Heads 40-80+ per array. Peduncles mostly 0-1(-1.5) cm. Involucres campanulate, 2-3+ mm diam. Phyllaries 8-11, distinct (oblong, carinate, apices obtuse or acute). Ray florets 0 or 6-9; laminae yellow, 3-5 (× 2-3) mm. Disc florets 30-40; corollas 4 mm. Cypselae 3-4 mm; pappi of 8-12 oblong or oblanceolate scales ca. 1 mm. 2n = 30.Flowering Apr-Sep. Coastal dunes and bluffs; 0-100 m; Calif., Oreg.Morphologically, Eriophyllum staechadifolium appears to connect E. confertiflorum var. confertiflorum and E. (Constancea) nevinii.