Acmispon haydonii
Pygmy lotus, pygmy lotus, pygmy lotus
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Acmispon haydonii (Pygmy lotus) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive rush-like habit.
Pygmy lotus is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in southeastern Peninsular Ranges and southwestern Desert Southern California, especially San Diego County, in creosote-bush scrub and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 600 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces delicate yellow flowers with a distinctive keel slightly longer than other petals. Growing with ascending or sprawling rush-like stems 10 to 200 centimeters tall and bushy in form, it develops sparse, early-deciduous subpalmate leaves with three small elliptic leaflets. Its leaves are notably minimal, with leaflets measuring just 2 to 5 millimeters long and often appearing almost absent. The fruit is an interesting curved, oblong structure 6 to 9 millimeters long with a distinctive 2 to 3 millimeter curved beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive rush-like habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Creosote-bush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 600-1200 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Acmispon haydonii blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Lotus: Same genus - Lotus is an older name for Acmispon, now considered synonymous.; vs Ottleya: Acmispon has yellow pea-shaped flowers in umbels; Ottleya (a buckwheat relative) has tiny white/pink flowers without pea shape.; vs Eriogonum: Acmispon has compound leaves with 3 leaflets; buckwheats (Eriogonum) have simple leaves.; vs Genista: Acmispon leaves are compound with 3 leaflets; Genista (broom) has simple or very small trifoliate leaves on ridged green stems.; vs Hosackia: Acmispon has tiny gland-like stipules; Hosackia has conspicuous papery or leaf-like stipules at leaf bases.
Frequently asked questions
Is Acmispon haydonii native to California?
Yes. Acmispon haydonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acmispon haydonii bloom?
Acmispon haydonii blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Acmispon haydonii belong to?
Acmispon haydonii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Acmispon.
Is Acmispon haydonii rare or endangered?
Acmispon haydonii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Acmispon haydonii grow in?
Acmispon haydonii grows in Creosote-bush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.