Frasera albicaulis
Whitestem frasera
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Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Frasera albicaulis (Whitestem frasera) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by size, leaf width, and single vs double nectary pits.
Whitestem frasera is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in montane and alpine habitats. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces green-white to pale blue flowers with dark blue dots, with delicate elliptic-oblong corolla lobes 6 to 12 millimeters long. Growing 1 to 6.5 decimeters tall with 1 to few stems and multiple rosettes, it develops distinctive white-margined leaves. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate, 4 to 23 centimeters long and 3 to 12 millimeters wide, while cauline leaves are opposite and become linear-oblong toward the stem tip. The flower's unique feature includes a ridge between stamens with triangular scales and a small nectary pit in each lobe.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are size, leaf width, and single vs double nectary pits
Habitat and range
California counties: Lassen, Plumas, Trinity, Modoc, Siskiyou, Butte, Sierra
Outside California: to Washington, Montana, northwestern Nevada
How to tell it apart
vs Swertia: Frasera has one nectar pit per petal; Swertia has two.; vs Chorizanthe: Frasera has four-petaled gentian flowers; spineflower has six perianth parts.; vs Nerium: Frasera is herbaceous; oleander is woody with milky sap.
Frequently asked questions
Is Frasera albicaulis native to California?
Yes. Frasera albicaulis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Frasera albicaulis grow?
Frasera albicaulis occurs in Lassen, Plumas, Trinity, Modoc, Siskiyou, Butte, Sierra.
What plant family does Frasera albicaulis belong to?
Frasera albicaulis is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Frasera.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Frasera albicaulis var. modocensis — Modoc frasera
- Frasera albicaulis var. nitida — Whitestem frasera
- Frasera albomarginata — Desert frasera
- Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata — Desert green-gentian
- Frasera albomarginata var. induta — Clark mountain green-gentian
- Frasera neglecta — Pine green-gentian
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.