Eremocarya lepida
Mountain red-root
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Eremocarya lepida (Mountain red-root) is a native California annual in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by growth form (taller than wide vs wider than tall), habitat (mountain vs desert), and flower size/color.
Mountain red-root is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, Transverse, Peninsular, and northern Southeastern California ranges in mountain slopes, flats, valleys, and granite-based gravelly soils within conifer forest, chaparral, foothill woodland, and Joshua-tree woodland at elevations of 300 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces yellow-centered flowers with prominent yellow appendages in small corolla clusters approximately 1.8 to 4 millimeters in diameter. Growing with a few erect branches from its base, the plant typically reaches 8 to 15 centimeters tall and is generally taller than wide. Its branches emerge from the base with an upright structure, creating a compact form across gravelly mountain habitats. The plant produces small, acuminate nutlets measuring 1.2 to 1.4 millimeters long, characteristic of its delicate mountain environment.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by growth form (taller than wide vs wider than tall), habitat (mountain vs desert), and flower size/color
Habitat and range
Habitat: Mountain slopes, flats, valleys, granite-based gravelly soils, generally conifer forest, also chaparral, foothill woodland, Joshua-tree woodland
Elevation: 300-2800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Kern, Imperial
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Eremocarya lepida blooms Mar-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Cryptantha: Eremocarya has a small corolla with a conspicuous yellow center and prominent yellow throat appendages; Cryptantha typically shows a white throat with less prominent appendages.; vs Johnstonella: Eremocarya has a distinctly yellow-eyed flower and acuminate nutlets; Johnstonella has white flowers and differently ornamented nutlets.; vs Greeneocharis: Eremocarya is erect and taller than wide with acuminate nutlets; Greeneocharis is a low, rounded, cushion-like plant.; vs Plagiobothrys: Eremocarya is a dry-desert annual with tiny yellow-centered flowers and non-staining herbage; Plagiobothrys (popcornflowers) often stain purple and grow in moist ground.; vs Amsinckia: Eremocarya has tiny white flowers with a yellow eye in short coils; Amsinckia (fiddleneck) has orange-yellow tubular flowers in a strongly coiled cyme.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eremocarya lepida native to California?
Yes. Eremocarya lepida is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremocarya lepida bloom?
Eremocarya lepida blooms Mar-Aug.
Where in California does Eremocarya lepida grow?
Eremocarya lepida occurs in San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Kern, Imperial, at elevations of 300-2800 m.
What plant family does Eremocarya lepida belong to?
Eremocarya lepida is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Eremocarya.
What habitat does Eremocarya lepida grow in?
Eremocarya lepida grows in Mountain slopes, flats, valleys, granite-based gravelly soils, generally conifer forest, also chaparral, foothill woodland, Joshua-tree woodland.
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.