Cleomella brevipes
Short-pedicelled cleomella, Short-Pedicelled Cleomella
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Cleomaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Cleomella brevipes (Short-pedicelled cleomella) is a native California herb in the Cleomaceae family, recognized by distinctive short pedicels and small flowers.
Short-pedicelled cleomella is a California native annual herb ranked 4.2 by CNPS, found in southeastern and eastern desert mountain regions in alkaline marshes and salt-encrusted thermal spring soils at elevations of 400 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces pale yellow flowers with small petals approximately 1.5 to 2 millimeters long, arising singly in leaf axils. Growing with glaucous stems 5 to 45 centimeters tall that are characteristically rough in texture, it develops a compact and sparse growth habit. Its leaves feature fleshy leaflets 5 to 15 millimeters long, ranging from linear to obovate in shape with very short petioles measuring 0.5 to 3 millimeters. The fruit develops as a small round capsule 2 to 3 millimeters wide with slightly conical valve structures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; distinctive short pedicels and small flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline marshes, wet, salt-encrusted soil around thermal springs
Elevation: 400-2100 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino, Kern
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Cleomella brevipes blooms May-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Physaria: Physaria has inflated bladder-like pods and 4 petals; Cleomella has small flat round capsules and variable petals.; vs Astragalus: Astragalus has compound leaves and pea-shaped flowers; Cleomella has palmately divided leaves and regular flowers.; vs Sesbania: Sesbania has pinnately compound leaves and large pea flowers; Cleomella has palmate leaves and small regular flowers.; vs Atriplex: Atriplex has tiny greenish flowers and simple leaves; Cleomella has showy flowers and palmately divided leaves.; vs Isocoma: Isocoma has yellow composite flower heads; Cleomella has individual flowers with separate petals and prominent stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cleomella brevipes native to California?
Yes. Cleomella brevipes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cleomella brevipes bloom?
Cleomella brevipes blooms May-Oct.
Where in California does Cleomella brevipes grow?
Cleomella brevipes occurs in Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino, Kern, at elevations of 400-2100 m.
What plant family does Cleomella brevipes belong to?
Cleomella brevipes is in the Cleomaceae family, genus Cleomella.
Is Cleomella brevipes rare or endangered?
Cleomella brevipes carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.