Calyptridium umbellatum
Cistanthe
(c) J Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by J Brew · licence
Family: Montiaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Calyptridium umbellatum (Cistanthe) is a native California perennial in the Montiaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by perennial habit, multiple rosettes, and leafless flowering stems.
Cistanthe is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin in open, sandy to rocky soils, conifer forest, and alpine habitats at elevations of 240 to 4,300 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces delicate white flowers in compact umbel clusters 1 to 7 centimeters wide. Growing with spreading to ascending stems less than 60 centimeters tall, it forms distinctive basal rosettes with multiple leaf clusters. Its basal leaves measure 1.5 to 7 centimeters long, arranged in rosettes with few to no stem leaves. The plant produces small white petals and has a short, thick underground caudex with a slender to thick taproot.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species. Distinguished by perennial habit, multiple rosettes, and leafless flowering stems.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy to rocky soils, conifer forest, alpine
Elevation: 240-4300 m
California counties: Tulare, Mariposa, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Kern, Tuolumne, Amador, Mono, Placer, Modoc, Inyo, Siskiyou, Nevada, Shasta, Plumas, Sierra, Trinity, Lassen, Butte, Tehama, Mendocino, Madera, Humboldt, Lake, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Del Norte, Alpine, Sonoma, Ventura, San Benito, Colusa
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Wyoming, Utah
Bloom period
Calyptridium umbellatum blooms May-Oct.
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 umbellatum native to California?
Yes. Calyptridium umbellatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Calyptridium umbellatum bloom?
Calyptridium umbellatum blooms May-Oct.
Where in California does Calyptridium umbellatum grow?
Calyptridium umbellatum occurs in Tulare, Mariposa, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Kern, Tuolumne, Amador, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 240-4300 m.
What plant family does Calyptridium umbellatum belong to?
Calyptridium umbellatum is in the Montiaceae family, genus Calyptridium.
What habitat does Calyptridium umbellatum grow in?
Calyptridium umbellatum grows in Open, sandy to rocky soils, conifer forest, alpine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Calyptridium arizonicum — Arizona pussypaws
- Calyptridium monandrum — Common pussypaws
- Calyptridium monospermum — One seeded pussypaws
- Calyptridium parryi — Parry's pussypaws
- Calyptridium parryi var. hesseae — Santa cruz mountains pussypaws
- Calyptridium parryi var. nevadense — Nevada pussypaws
- Cistanthe maritima — Seaside cistanthe
- Cistanthe sp.
- Claytonia cordifolia — Heart leaf spring beauty
- Claytonia crawfordii — Crawford's spring beauty
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.