Erythranthe inconspicua
Small-flowered monkeyflower
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Phrymaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Erythranthe inconspicua (Small-flowered monkeyflower) is a native California annual in the Phrymaceae family, recognized by pink/lavender flowers and symmetric fruit.
Small-flowered monkeyflower is a California native annual found in the southern Sierra Nevada Foothills near El Dorado County in hillside streams and seeps with partial shade at elevations of 200 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces rose to lavender flowers with deeply notched petals in delicate blossoms about 5 to 6 millimeters wide. Growing to 3 to 16 centimeters tall, the plant forms a distinctive basal rosette with broadly elliptic leaves near the base and sessile ovate leaves along its stems. Its leaves range from 6 to 20 millimeters long, with a rounded base and a glabrous surface. The fruit develops 4 to 9 millimeters long, with a symmetrically swollen calyx in maturity.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; distinguished by pink/lavender flowers and symmetric fruit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Near hillside streams or seeps, in partial shade
Elevation: 200-2100 m
Bloom period
Erythranthe inconspicua blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
Frequently asked questions
Is Erythranthe inconspicua native to California?
Yes. Erythranthe inconspicua is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erythranthe inconspicua bloom?
Erythranthe inconspicua blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Erythranthe inconspicua belong to?
Erythranthe inconspicua is in the Phrymaceae family, genus Erythranthe.
Is Erythranthe inconspicua rare or endangered?
Erythranthe inconspicua carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
What habitat does Erythranthe inconspicua grow in?
Erythranthe inconspicua grows in Near hillside streams or seeps, in partial shade.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.