Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by . Key features: rosette, sparse hairs, downward-curved narrow fruits.
Eremothera boothii subspecies desertorum is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada, southern Sierra Nevada eastern slope, and Mojave Desert regions in sandy or gravelly slopes within creosote-bush scrub at elevations of 450 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces delicate white to pale yellow flowers in slender inflorescences with inconspicuous bracts. Growing with thin stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall, it forms a well-developed basal rosette covered in sparse, minute strigose hairs. Its leaves range from 10 to 40 millimeters long, typically lanceolate to narrowly ovate, with some lower leaves oblanceolate and edges ranging from entire to minutely dentate. The fruit is slightly curved, measuring 1 to 1.6 millimeters wide and typically bending downward.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species. Key features: rosette, sparse hairs, downward-curved narrow fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly slopes, washes, generally creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: 450-2000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Tulare, Imperial, Monterey, Ventura
Bloom period
Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum blooms Mar-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Chylismia: Eremothera has white/pink flowers opening at night; Chylismia has yellow day flowers.; vs Chorizanthe: Eremothera has regular 4-petaled flowers; Chorizanthe has tiny flowers in papery involucres (buckwheat family).; vs Oenothera: Eremothera has white/pink flowers; Oenothera typically has yellow flowers with 4-lobed stigma.; vs Camissonia: Eremothera has white/pink night flowers; Camissonia has yellow day flowers.; vs Gayophytum: Eremothera has larger white/pink flowers; Gayophytum has tiny thread-like stems and minute flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum native to California?
Yes. Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum bloom?
Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum grow?
Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Tulare, Imperial and other counties, at elevations of 450-2000 m.
What plant family does Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum belong to?
Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum is in the Onagraceae family, genus Eremothera.
What habitat does Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum grow in?
Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum grows in Sandy or gravelly slopes, washes, generally creosote-bush scrub.
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.