Frasera puberulenta
Inyo frasera
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Frasera puberulenta (Inyo frasera) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Inyo frasera is a California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada and White and Inyo Mountains in dry, open conifer woodland at elevations of 1,700 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces green-white flowers with distinctive purple dots and streaks, arranged in an open inflorescence with pedicels 5 to 35 millimeters long. Growing 1 to 3 decimeters tall with one to several stems that are puberulent, it develops a distinctive growth pattern with basal leaves 2 to 12 centimeters long and narrowly white-margined. Its leaves are narrowly obovate to elliptic-oblong, with basal leaves 6 to 17 millimeters wide and obtuse or mucronate tips, while cauline leaves are opposite and become progressively more oblong to lanceolate. The flower corolla features oblong-obovate lobes with abruptly acuminate tips and a low, fringed ridge between stamens.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open conifer woodland
Elevation: 1700-3400 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Frasera puberulenta blooms Jun-Aug.
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 puberulenta native to California?
Yes. Frasera puberulenta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Frasera puberulenta bloom?
Frasera puberulenta blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Frasera puberulenta grow?
Frasera puberulenta occurs in Inyo, Mono, at elevations of 1700-3400 m.
What plant family does Frasera puberulenta belong to?
Frasera puberulenta is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Frasera.
What habitat does Frasera puberulenta grow in?
Frasera puberulenta grows in Dry, open conifer woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.