Calyptridium quadripetalum
Four-petaled pussypaws
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Montiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Calyptridium quadripetalum (Four-petaled pussypaws) is a native California herb in the Montiaceae family, recognized by . Key features are deciduous flowers and coarsely papillate seeds.
Four-petaled pussypaws is a California native annual found in northern California Coast Ranges at elevations of 400 to 2,000 meters in sandy or gravelly serpentine areas. Flowering from April to June, this delicate plant produces white to pink flowers with four petals about 2 to 3 millimeters long. Growing with spreading to erect stems 1.5 to 13 centimeters tall, it forms a slender taproot or fibrous root system. Its leaves are both basal and along the stem, generally persisting through fruit production and measuring 0.5 to 6 centimeters long. The plant produces tiny fruits 3 to 4 millimeters long containing 10 to 20 small, papillate seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species. Key features are deciduous flowers and coarsely papillate seeds.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly areas, generally serpentine
Elevation: 400-2000 m
Bloom period
Calyptridium quadripetalum blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Eriogonum: Calyptridium has separate petals; Eriogonum flowers are in papery involucres with 6 petal-like tepals.; vs Cistanthe: Calyptridium has 2-4 petals and 1-3 stamens; Cistanthe consistently has 5 petals and 5-10 stamens.; vs Chorizanthe: Calyptridium has distinct petals; Chorizanthe has tubular flowers with papery bracts and no true petals.; vs Camissoniopsis: Calyptridium has 2-4 petals with few stamens; Camissoniopsis has 4 petals with 8 stamens.; vs Claytonia: Calyptridium has only 2-4 petals and dense ground-hugging clusters; Claytonia has 5 petals on upright stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calyptridium quadripetalum native to California?
Yes. Calyptridium quadripetalum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Calyptridium quadripetalum bloom?
Calyptridium quadripetalum blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Calyptridium quadripetalum belong to?
Calyptridium quadripetalum is in the Montiaceae family, genus Calyptridium.
Is Calyptridium quadripetalum rare or endangered?
Calyptridium quadripetalum carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
What habitat does Calyptridium quadripetalum grow in?
Calyptridium quadripetalum grows in Sandy or gravelly areas, generally serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.