Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia
Fivewing spiderling
Mike (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA
Family: Nyctaginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia (Fivewing spiderling) is a native California annual in the Nyctaginaceae family, recognized by elongated 5-ribbed fruits.
Fivewing spiderling is a California native annual found in eastern Peninsular Ranges, eastern Mojave Desert Mountains including Ivanpah, Clark, and Kingston ranges, and southeastern Sonoran Desert in gravelly washes and flats at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces pale pink to white flowers less than 2 millimeters long, typically clustered in small umbels of 3 to 6 blooms. Growing with ascending or erect stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall, it has fine, sparse hairs along its slender structure. Its leaves are broadly lanceolate or ovate, with blades that are acute to obtuse at the tip. The fruit is characterized by 3 to 5 rounded or angled ribs, measuring 2 to 2.7 millimeters long with a truncate to rounded tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species, distinguished by elongated 5-ribbed fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly washes, flats
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego
Outside California: to Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia blooms Aug-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Allionia: Boerhavia has loose, open flower clusters; Allionia has exactly 3 flowers tightly grouped in bract cups.; vs Eriogonum: Boerhavia has opposite leaves and tiny bell flowers; Eriogonum has basal leaf rosettes and papery flower bracts.; vs Mirabilis: Boerhavia has tiny bell flowers under 5mm in loose clusters; Mirabilis has larger flowers in 5-bract cups.; vs Lantana: Boerhavia has tiny single bell flowers and sprawling stems; Lantana has dense rounded heads of tubular flowers.; vs Abronia: Boerhavia has tiny scattered flowers in loose clusters; Abronia has dense rounded pom-pom flower heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia native to California?
Yes. Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia bloom?
Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia blooms Aug-Oct.
Where in California does Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia grow?
Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia belong to?
Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia is in the Nyctaginaceae family, genus Boerhavia.
What habitat does Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia grow in?
Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia grows in Gravelly washes, flats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Boerhavia wrightii — Largebract spiderling
- Boerhavia coccinea — Scarlet spiderling
- Boerhavia coulteri
- Boerhavia coulteri var. coulteri
- Boerhavia coulteri var. palmeri — Coulter's spiderling
- Boerhavia diffusa — Red spiderling
- Mirabilis albida — Dwarf four o'clock
- Mirabilis alipes — Winged four o'clock
- Mirabilis coccinea — Red four o'clock
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.