Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes
(c) Alan Vernon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by dawn flowering, lack of red dots on petals, long fruit stalks.
Chylismia brevipes is a native annual found in Desert (D) bioregion in sandy slopes, washes, alluvial fans, and Joshua-tree woodland at elevations from 70 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers with petals 6 to 18 millimeters long. Growing with spreading hairs and slender stems, it forms delicate low-growing plants. Its leaves are characterized by soft, spreading hairs that give the plant a distinctive texture. The elongated fruit reaches 20 to 92 millimeters in length, with slender pedicels 5 to 20 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are dawn flowering, lack of red dots on petals, long fruit stalks
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy slopes, washes, alluvial fans, Joshua-tree woodland (moister areas than other subspecies)
Elevation: -70-1800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Imperial, San Diego
Outside California: to southwestern Utah
Bloom period
Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Eremothera: Chylismia has yellow flowers; Eremothera has white, pink, or red flowers that open at night.; vs Camissonia: Chylismia leaves are mostly basal and dandelion-like; Camissonia has narrow leaves up the stem.; vs Camissoniopsis: Chylismia has dandelion-like basal leaves; Camissoniopsis has lance-shaped leaves along the stem.; vs Eulobus: Chylismia has basal dandelion-like leaves; Eulobus has elegant wand-like stems with red-flecked petals.; vs Oenothera: Chylismia has dandelion-like basal leaves; Oenothera is typically a robust tall plant with 4-lobed stigma.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes native to California?
Yes. Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes bloom?
Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes grow?
Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Imperial, San Diego, at elevations of -70-1800 m.
What plant family does Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes belong to?
Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes is in the Onagraceae family, genus Chylismia.
What habitat does Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes grow in?
Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes grows in Sandy slopes, washes, alluvial fans, Joshua-tree woodland (moister areas than other subspecies).
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.