Cleomella sparsifolia
Fewleaf bee plant
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim Messick · licence
Family: Cleomaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cleomella sparsifolia (Fewleaf bee plant) is a native California herb in the Cleomaceae family, recognized by unique as perennial with glaucous habit.
Fewleaf bee plant is a California native perennial found in the eastern Sierra Nevada and Mojave Desert (Eureka Valley) on sandy areas and alkali lake margins at elevations of 850 to 2,030 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces distinctive yellow flowers with a brown central streak, 9 to 13 millimeters long, strap-shaped and recurved. Growing with glaucous, densely branched stems 10 to 90 centimeters tall, it has a sparse leaf structure with three leaflets below and simple leaves above. Its leaves feature obovate leaflets 0.4 to 1.5 centimeters long, creating a delicate and open architectural form. The fruit is a smooth capsule 15 to 45 millimeters long, producing subtle architectural interest in its desert and sandy habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; unique as perennial with glaucous habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand dunes, sandy areas on alkali lake margins
Elevation: 850-2030 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Cleomella sparsifolia blooms May-Aug.
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 sparsifolia native to California?
Yes. Cleomella sparsifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cleomella sparsifolia bloom?
Cleomella sparsifolia blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Cleomella sparsifolia grow?
Cleomella sparsifolia occurs in Inyo, Mono, at elevations of 850-2030 m.
What plant family does Cleomella sparsifolia belong to?
Cleomella sparsifolia is in the Cleomaceae family, genus Cleomella.
What habitat does Cleomella sparsifolia grow in?
Cleomella sparsifolia grows in Sand dunes, sandy areas on alkali lake margins.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Cleomella arborea — Bladderpod
- Cleomella arborea var. angustata — Bladderpod
- Cleomella arborea var. arborea — Bladderpod
- Cleomella arborea var. globosa — Bladderpod
- Cleomella brevipes — Short-pedicelled cleomella
- Cleomella californica
- Polanisia dodecandra subsp. trachysperma — Western clammyweed
- Polanisia sp.
- Cleomaceae sp. — Spiderflower family
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.