Aliciella ripleyi
Ripley's aliciella, Ripley's aliciella, Ripley's aliciella
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Aliciella ripleyi (Ripley's aliciella) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by perennial habit and holly-like leaves diagnostic.
Ripley's aliciella is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial herb found in northern Death Mountains in Inyo County on limestone cliffs at elevations of 65 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white flowers with magenta lobes in delicate clusters. Growing with glandular-hairy stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops distinctive holly-like leaves with needle-tipped teeth. Its basal leaves form dense clusters up to 6 centimeters long with blades 1 to 7 centimeters wide, featuring raised veins and glandular hairs. The fruit is a small ovoid structure 3 to 5 millimeters long, containing 57 to 72 deep red-brown seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; perennial habit and holly-like leaves diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Limestone cliffs
Elevation: 65-1400 m
California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino
Outside California: Nevada (rare)
Bloom period
Aliciella ripleyi blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
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 ripleyi native to California?
Yes. Aliciella ripleyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Aliciella ripleyi bloom?
Aliciella ripleyi blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Aliciella ripleyi grow?
Aliciella ripleyi occurs in Inyo, San Bernardino, at elevations of 65-1400 m.
What plant family does Aliciella ripleyi belong to?
Aliciella ripleyi is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Aliciella.
Is Aliciella ripleyi rare or endangered?
Aliciella ripleyi carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Aliciella sp.
- Aliciella triodon — Coyote gilia
- Aliciella humillima — Smallest aliciella
- Aliciella hutchinsifolia — Desert pale aliciella
- Aliciella latifolia subsp. latifolia — Broad-leaved aliciella
- Aliciella leptomeria — Sand aliciella
- Allophyllum divaricatum — Trinity Mountains rockcress
- Allophyllum gilioides — Dense false gilia
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.