Allophyllum glutinosum
Sticky false gilia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allophyllum glutinosum (Sticky false gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by southern California distribution, bilateral flowers, and sticky glands.
Sticky false gilia is a California native annual found in southern Coast Ranges, southern Channel Islands, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in rocky or sandy, often moist areas at elevations of 30 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pale blue to lavender flowers with bilateral, two-lipped corollas 6 to 11 millimeters long. Growing with erect, glandular stems 10 to 60 centimeters tall that have a distinctive skunk-like odor, it develops intricate branching. Its compound leaves are deeply lobed, with basal leaf lobes 1 to 2 millimeters wide and upper leaf lobes 3 to 11 millimeters wide, ranging from lanceolate to elliptic. The long-stalked glands on its stems and exserted stamens and style curving from the flower's lower lip make this annual a distinctive woodland and chaparral inhabitant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; southern California distribution, bilateral flowers, and sticky glands are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky or sandy, often moist areas in sun or shade
Elevation: 30-1600 m
California counties: Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Kern, San Benito, Napa, Tuolumne
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Allophyllum glutinosum blooms Apr-Jun.
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 glutinosum native to California?
Yes. Allophyllum glutinosum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allophyllum glutinosum bloom?
Allophyllum glutinosum blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Allophyllum glutinosum grow?
Allophyllum glutinosum occurs in Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of 30-1600 m.
What plant family does Allophyllum glutinosum belong to?
Allophyllum glutinosum is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Allophyllum.
What habitat does Allophyllum glutinosum grow in?
Allophyllum glutinosum grows in Rocky or sandy, often moist areas in sun or shade.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Allophyllum integrifolium — White allophyllum
- Allophyllum sp.
- Allophyllum divaricatum — Trinity Mountains rockcress
- Allophyllum gilioides — Dense false gilia
- Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides
- Allophyllum gilioides subsp. violaceum
- Collomia diversifolia — Serpentine collomia
- Collomia grandiflora — Large-flowered collomia
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.