Aliciella lottiae
Lott's aliciella
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS CBR
Aliciella lottiae (Lott's aliciella) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by fleshy leaves with wide midrib and expanded throat are key.
Lott's aliciella is a California native annual found in the Great Basin, western Mojave Desert, and eastern Desert Mountains including the Clark Mountain Range in sandy sagebrush scrub at elevations of 400 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces delicate white flowers with pink or lavender lobes and yellow-spotted white throats. Growing with spreading branches 5 to 43 centimeters tall and covered in fine glandular hairs, it features distinctive fleshy basal leaves up to 11 centimeters long that are lanceolate and deeply divided or serrated. Its lower leaves are broad and complex, with spreading lobes and a wide midrib, while upper stem leaves are narrow and entire. The small fruit is ovoid, 3 to 5 millimeters long, with a pointed tip containing numerous seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; fleshy leaves with wide midrib and expanded throat are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy soils, sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 400-2100 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Lassen, Inyo, Modoc, Mono, Kern, Los Angeles
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, Utah
Bloom period
Aliciella lottiae blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS CBR
How to tell it apart
vs Gilia: Aliciella has wheel-shaped flowers with spreading lobes; Gilia has funnel-shaped flowers with a tube.; vs Phacelia: Aliciella leaves are cleanly feather-divided; Phacelia leaves are more irregularly lobed or toothed.; vs Linanthus: Aliciella smells skunky when crushed; Linanthus lacks this odor.; vs Lathrocasis: Aliciella has deeply divided compound leaves; Lathrocasis has simple, undivided leaves.; vs Allophyllum: Aliciella has wheel-shaped flowers; Allophyllum has funnel-shaped flowers and long fuzzy hairs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aliciella lottiae native to California?
Yes. Aliciella lottiae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Aliciella lottiae bloom?
Aliciella lottiae blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Aliciella lottiae grow?
Aliciella lottiae occurs in San Bernardino, Lassen, Inyo, Modoc, Mono, Kern, Los Angeles, at elevations of 400-2100 m.
What plant family does Aliciella lottiae belong to?
Aliciella lottiae is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Aliciella.
Is Aliciella lottiae rare or endangered?
Aliciella lottiae carries California Rare Plant Rank CBR.
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.