Eucnide rupestris

Annual rock-nettle

Family: Loasaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Annual rock-nettle is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native annual found in southern Desert Southwest region, specifically Painted Gorge in Imperial County, inhabiting rocky crevices and cliff environments at elevations of 180 to 450 meters. Flowering from December to April, this plant produces shiny green leaves with white to pale flowers emerging in delicate clusters. Growing less than 30 centimeters tall with slender stems, it develops a compact, low-spreading form characteristic of cliff-dwelling plants. Its rounded leaves are 1 to 8 centimeters long, widely tapered with toothed edges, presenting a glossy green appearance above. The fruit develops as a small cylindric structure 7 to 15 millimeters long, with reflexed pedicels supporting its delicate structure.

Habitat: Crevices, cliffs

Bloom period: Dec-Apr

Elevation: 180-450 m

Bioregions: s DSon (Painted Gorge, Imperial Co.)

California counties: Imperial, San Diego

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.