Comastoma tenellum
Samiland gentian, Samiland Gentian
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Comastoma tenellum (Samiland gentian) is a native California annual in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by Represents the only member of genus Comastoma in California, distinguished from Gentiana by its unfused petals.
Samiland gentian is a California native annual found in the central Sierra Nevada and White and Inyo Mountains in open, wet places at elevations of 3,200 to 3,900 meters. Flowering from July to August, this delicate plant produces pale violet-blue to white flowers 6 to 17 millimeters long with ovate-oblong lobes. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 15 centimeters tall, sometimes branching near the base and forming up to 25 stems. Its leaves are predominantly basal, elliptic-oblong to spoon-shaped and less than 20 millimeters long, with 1 to 4 pairs of smaller cauline leaves. The plant's diminutive size and delicate flowers make it a subtle but charming component of high-elevation alpine meadows.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Represents the only member of genus Comastoma in California, distinguished from Gentiana by its unfused petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, wet places
Elevation: 3200-3900 m
California counties: Inyo, Tulare, Mono, Tuolumne
Outside California: to Alaska, Colorado, circumpolar
Bloom period
Comastoma tenellum blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Zeltnera: Comastoma grows above 3200m with solitary flowers; Zeltnera is low-elevation with clustered salverform flowers.; vs Centaurium: Comastoma grows above 3200m with solitary flowers; Centaurium is low-elevation with clustered salverform flowers.; vs Gentianopsis: Comastoma has tiny solitary four-petaled flowers; Gentianopsis has large fringed flowers typically with four petals.; vs Gentianella: Comastoma has solitary flowers with parts in fours; Gentianella has clustered flowers with parts in fives.
Frequently asked questions
Is Comastoma tenellum native to California?
Yes. Comastoma tenellum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Comastoma tenellum bloom?
Comastoma tenellum blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Comastoma tenellum grow?
Comastoma tenellum occurs in Inyo, Tulare, Mono, Tuolumne, at elevations of 3200-3900 m.
What plant family does Comastoma tenellum belong to?
Comastoma tenellum is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Comastoma.
What habitat does Comastoma tenellum grow in?
Comastoma tenellum grows in Open, wet places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.