Cleomella parviflora
Slender cleomella
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Family: Cleomaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cleomella parviflora (Slender cleomella) is a native California herb in the Cleomaceae family, recognized by distinctive small flowers with purple stigma.
Slender cleomella is a California native annual found in the Great Basin and Mojave Desert bioregions in wet, alkaline meadows near thermal springs in sagebrush desert at elevations of 350 to 2,140 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces pale yellow flowers less than 2.5 millimeters long in slender racemes up to 30 centimeters long. Growing with branched stems 3 to 45 centimeters tall that are smooth and spreading from the base, it forms a delicate desert herb. Its few leaves have 5 to 35 millimeter linear-elliptic leaflets that are slightly fleshy and pale green. The fruit is a small capsule 3 to 4 millimeters long with cone-shaped valves.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; distinctive small flowers with purple stigma
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet, alkaline meadows near thermal springs in sagebrush desert
Elevation: 350-2140 m
California counties: Lassen, Mono, Inyo, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Cleomella parviflora blooms May-Sep.
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 parviflora native to California?
Yes. Cleomella parviflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cleomella parviflora bloom?
Cleomella parviflora blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Cleomella parviflora grow?
Cleomella parviflora occurs in Lassen, Mono, Inyo, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, at elevations of 350-2140 m.
What plant family does Cleomella parviflora belong to?
Cleomella parviflora is in the Cleomaceae family, genus Cleomella.
What habitat does Cleomella parviflora grow in?
Cleomella parviflora grows in Wet, alkaline meadows near thermal springs in sagebrush desert.
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.