Datisca glomerata
Durango root
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Datiscaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Datisca glomerata (Durango root) is a native California herb in the Datiscaceae family, recognized by Relictual species in a primarily tropical family, with disjunct distribution in western North America.
Durango root is a California native perennial found in the southern Sierra Nevada, Death Valley Mountains, and California Floristic Province in dry streambeds and washes at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow staminate flowers with anthers 4 millimeters long. Growing with erect, branched stems 1 to 2 meters tall that are generally clustered, it has a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves are alternate above and nearly opposite or whorled below, measuring up to 15 centimeters long, with ovate to lanceolate blades that are coarsely and unequally pinnately lobed. The fruit is approximately 8 millimeters long, containing light brown seeds with distinctive pitted rows.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Relictual species in a primarily tropical family, with disjunct distribution in western North America
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry streambeds or washes
Elevation: < 2000 m
California counties: Humboldt, Lake, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Tulare, Tuolumne, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Fresno, Riverside, Inyo, Siskiyou, Santa Barbara, Kern, Santa Clara, Monterey, Orange, Contra Costa, Tehama, Ventura, Napa, Colusa, Mariposa, Glenn, Madera, San Mateo, Calaveras, El Dorado, Yolo, Trinity, Solano, Merced, Butte, Amador, Stanislaus, Marin, Sonoma, Sacramento
Outside California: western Nevada, Baja California
Bloom period
Datisca glomerata blooms May-Jul.
Frequently asked questions
Is Datisca glomerata native to California?
Yes. Datisca glomerata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Datisca glomerata bloom?
Datisca glomerata blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Datisca glomerata grow?
Datisca glomerata occurs in Humboldt, Lake, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Tulare, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of < 2000 m.
What plant family does Datisca glomerata belong to?
Datisca glomerata is in the Datiscaceae family, genus Datisca.
What habitat does Datisca glomerata grow in?
Datisca glomerata grows in dry streambeds or washes.
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.