Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium
Photo: parent species Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum · (c) Alex, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium is a native California annual in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by key habitat: gravelly rockslides in n&c Sierra Nevada.
Snapdragon is a native annual found in northern and central Sierra Nevada on gravelly lower slopes of rockslides and disturbed areas, often on serpentine, at elevations of 100 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces flowers 10 to 14 millimeters long with some dark veins. Growing with stems 10 to 100 centimeters tall, it has distinctive glandular hairs, particularly on the lower stem. Its inflorescence branches have two leaves at the lowest node, with an upper calyx lobe 4.4 to 10 millimeters long and a lower calyx lobe 3 to 6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; key habitat: gravelly rockslides in n&c Sierra Nevada
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly lower slopes of rockslides, disturbed areas, often on serpentine
Elevation: 100-1400 m
California counties: Mariposa, Tuolumne, Placer, Butte, Plumas, Yuba, Sierra, Colusa, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Amador, El Dorado, Nevada, Tehama
Bloom period
Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Linaria: Antirrhinum has a bulging sac at flower base; Linaria has a long backward-pointing spur.; vs Sairocarpus: Antirrhinum has hairy plants with twining flower stalks; Sairocarpus is glabrous with straight stalks.; vs Penstemon: Antirrhinum has closed snapdragon mouth with 4 stamens; Penstemon has open throat with 5 stamens (one sterile).; vs Salvia: Antirrhinum has 4 stamens hidden inside; Salvia has 2 stamens arching out of hooded upper lip.; vs Rosa: Antirrhinum has tubular two-lipped flowers; Rosa has flat open flowers with 5 separate petals and thorny stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium native to California?
Yes. Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium bloom?
Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium grow?
Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium occurs in Mariposa, Tuolumne, Placer, Butte, Plumas, Yuba, Sierra, Colusa and other counties, at elevations of 100-1400 m.
What plant family does Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium belong to?
Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Antirrhinum.
What habitat does Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium grow in?
Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. intermedium grows in Gravelly lower slopes of rockslides, disturbed areas, often on serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum subsp. vexillocalyculatum
- Antirrhinum virga — Twig-like snapdragon
- Antirrhinum confertiflorum — Ghost flower
- Antirrhinum cornutum — Spurred snapdragon
- Antirrhinum coulterianum — Coulter snapdragon
- Antirrhinum filipes — Tangled snapdragon
- Bacopa eisenii — Gila river water hyssop
- Bacopa monnieri — Herb of grace
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.