Comandra umbellata subsp. californica
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Comandraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Comandra umbellata subsp. californica is a native California subshrub in the Comandraceae family, recognized by Small genus of parasitic plants; this subspecies represents the genus's only form in California.
Comandra is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, northeastern Sierra Nevada, and northern Mojave Desert in generally dry, rocky areas at elevations of 300 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces small white flowers 2 to 3.5 millimeters long with lanceolate calyx lobes. Growing with multiple slender stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall emerging from a rhizome and appearing bluish-green or glaucous, it branches softly across its length. Its narrow lanceolate leaves measure 15 to 55 millimeters long, appearing slightly paler on the underside and tapering to sharp points. The fruit is an oblong-ovoid structure 5 to 7.5 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Small genus of parasitic plants; this subspecies represents the genus's only form in California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally dry, +- rocky areas
Elevation: 300-3000 m
California counties: Fresno, Tulare, Butte, Calaveras, Kern, Trinity, Shasta, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Mariposa, Inyo, Humboldt, Amador, Modoc, Madera, Siskiyou, Tehama, Lassen
Outside California: to British Columbia, southwestern Nevada, northwestern Arizona
Bloom period
Comandra umbellata subsp. californica blooms Apr-Aug.
Frequently asked questions
Is Comandra umbellata subsp. californica native to California?
Yes. Comandra umbellata subsp. californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Comandra umbellata subsp. californica bloom?
Comandra umbellata subsp. californica blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Comandra umbellata subsp. californica grow?
Comandra umbellata subsp. californica occurs in Fresno, Tulare, Butte, Calaveras, Kern, Trinity, Shasta, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of 300-3000 m.
What plant family does Comandra umbellata subsp. californica belong to?
Comandra umbellata subsp. californica is in the Comandraceae family, genus Comandra.
What habitat does Comandra umbellata subsp. californica grow in?
Comandra umbellata subsp. californica grows in Generally dry, +- rocky areas.
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.