Chylismia claviformis subsp. yumae
(c) Joe Decruyenaere, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Chylismia claviformis subsp. yumae is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by found only in se Imperial County dunes and sandy flats.
Chylismia claviformis subsp. yumae is a California native annual found in southeastern Imperial County in the Colorado Desert, inhabiting dunes and sandy flats in creosote-bush scrub at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers 4 to 5.5 millimeters long that occasionally fade to reddish tones. Growing with strigose stems that are sometimes glandular-hairy toward the tips, it reaches a low, spreading form typical of desert environments. Its leaves feature a terminal lanceolate leaflet up to 65 millimeters long, with lateral leaflets often reduced or absent. The plant's densely hairy texture and delicate yellow blossoms make it a subtle yet distinctive member of the desert landscape.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; found only in se Imperial County dunes and sandy flats
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dunes or sandy flats, creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: southwestern Arizona, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Chylismia claviformis subsp. yumae blooms Feb-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 claviformis subsp. yumae native to California?
Yes. Chylismia claviformis subsp. yumae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chylismia claviformis subsp. yumae bloom?
Chylismia claviformis subsp. yumae blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Chylismia claviformis subsp. yumae belong to?
Chylismia claviformis subsp. yumae is in the Onagraceae family, genus Chylismia.
What habitat does Chylismia claviformis subsp. yumae grow in?
Chylismia claviformis subsp. yumae grows in Dunes or sandy flats, creosote-bush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.