Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by higher elevation, open inflorescence, and elongating pedicels distinguish from other subspecies.
Allophyllum gilioides is a California native annual found in the northern Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, northern eastern Sierra Nevada, and Desert Mountains in open, sandy, generally damp or grassy areas at elevations of 1,200 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from May to July, this delicate plant produces lavender to violet flowers approximately 5 to 8 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems typically around 15 centimeters tall, it has a delicate, spreading growth habit. Its cauline leaves are entire or divided into 3 to 7 narrow lobes, each lobe measuring 0.5 to 3 millimeters wide. The flower pedicels tend to elongate as the plant produces fruit, giving it a distinctive open, loosely arranged appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; higher elevation, open inflorescence, and elongating pedicels distinguish from other subspecies
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy, generally damp or grassy areas
Elevation: 1200-2900 m
California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, Tulare, San Diego, San Bernardino, Mono, Colusa, Riverside, Inyo, El Dorado, Fresno, Placer, Nevada, Shasta, Sierra, Monterey, Plumas, Solano, Santa Barbara, Tehama, Glenn, Lassen, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Contra Costa, Madera, Alpine, Calaveras, Napa, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt, Ventura, San Benito, Santa Clara, Lake, Santa Cruz
Outside California: western Nevada, Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Gilia: Allophyllum has long fuzzy hairs; Gilia has white cobwebby or sharply bent hairs.; vs Microsteris: Allophyllum has variable long hairs and sticky seeds; Microsteris has short uniform hairs and dry seeds.; vs Eriastrum: Allophyllum is fuzzy-hairy; Eriastrum has woolly-white flower heads.; vs Collomia: Allophyllum has funnel flowers and sticky seeds; Collomia has trumpet flowers and dry seeds.; vs Linanthus: Allophyllum is conspicuously fuzzy with long hairs; Linanthus is less hairy or smooth.
Frequently asked questions
Is Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum native to California?
Yes. Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum bloom?
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum grow?
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum occurs in Kern, Los Angeles, Tulare, San Diego, San Bernardino, Mono, Colusa, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of 1200-2900 m.
What plant family does Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum belong to?
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Allophyllum.
What habitat does Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum grow in?
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum grows in Open, sandy, generally damp or grassy 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.