Acmispon micranthus
Small flowered lotus
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Acmispon micranthus (Small flowered lotus) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by small pink flowers that don't open.
Small flowered lotus is a California native annual found in southern coastal ranges, southern California, southern Channel Islands, and Peninsular Ranges in coastal scrub, desert canyons, and disturbed areas at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces yellow flowers about 3 to 5 millimeters long with a distinctive keel petal longer than other petals. Growing with prostrate to ascending stems 10 to 80 centimeters long that are glabrous or slightly hairy, it spreads close to the ground. Its leaves are irregularly pinnate with 4 to 7 leaflets, each 7 to 15 millimeters long, arranged oppositely or asymmetrically and having an obovate to elliptic shape. The fruit is an exserted linear pod 1 to 1.5 centimeters long, curved and occasionally bearing small horn-like processes with a hooked 2 to 3 millimeter beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 36 sympatric species; distinguished by small pink flowers that don't open
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub, desert canyons, washes, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 600 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, El Dorado, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Butte, Trinity, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, Shasta, Del Norte, Ventura, San Bernardino, San Diego, Napa, Amador, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Santa Clara, Calaveras, Placer, Sacramento, Mariposa, Orange, Monterey
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Acmispon micranthus blooms Mar-Jun.
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 micranthus native to California?
Yes. Acmispon micranthus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acmispon micranthus bloom?
Acmispon micranthus blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Acmispon micranthus grow?
Acmispon micranthus occurs in San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, El Dorado, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Butte, Trinity, Siskiyou and other counties, at elevations of < 600 m.
What plant family does Acmispon micranthus belong to?
Acmispon micranthus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Acmispon.
What habitat does Acmispon micranthus grow in?
Acmispon micranthus grows in Coastal scrub, desert canyons, washes, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.