Salt marsh bird's-beak has a very unique ecology. Seed dispersal is primarily local as the plants have no mechanism for forcibly dehiscing seeds, although seeds may be dispersed long distances through tides and birds. Dissected flowers show that the anthers have the ability to disperse pollen directly on to the stigmatic surface. It is a candidate species in the State of Oregon and was recently removed from the federal candidate list. Large-flowered goldfields has very showy yellow flowers about 2 cm.
Leaves are narrow and linear.
When the plants are not flowering they are very difficult to identify. This subspecies is known from less than 10 locations, although threats appear to be minimal at this time. In 1992 I collected a specimen from Floras Lake. No mention was made of its rarity and it appeared to be one of many California species which occur along the southern Oregon coast. In 1995 I received a call from Peter Morrell, a doctoral student from Claremont, CA, who is doing work on genetic relationships of the Gilia laciniata group, who asked me if I had ever seen this species.