Gayophytum decipiens
Deceiving gayophytum
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gayophytum decipiens (Deceiving gayophytum) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by . Key features: hairy ovary, small petals, glabrous to puberulent seeds.
Deceiving gayophytum is a California native annual found in the Sierra Nevada, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Modoc Plateau, White and Inyo Mountains, and Panamint Range in pinyon/juniper woodland and pine and fir forests at elevations of 1,800 to 4,200 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces small white to pale pink flowers with delicate petals just over 1 millimeter long. Growing with slender branching stems less than 50 centimeters tall, it spreads with branches extending throughout the plant. Its leaves are generally 1 to 3 centimeters long and become increasingly reduced towards the stem's upper nodes. The fruit is slightly knobby, 6 to 8 millimeters long, and carries 10 to 25 seeds that range from glabrous to densely puberulent.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species. Key features: hairy ovary, small petals, glabrous to puberulent seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pinyon/juniper woodland, pine, fir forest
Elevation: 1800-4200 m
Outside California: +- western United States.
Bloom period
Gayophytum decipiens blooms May-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Epilobium: Gayophytum is a wiry, much-branched annual with tiny flowers and short straight capsules whose seeds lack plumes; Epilobium has long linear capsules that split to release seeds tufted with hairs (coma).; vs Camissonia: Gayophytum has a very short or absent floral tube, so the petals appear to sit right on the ovary; the Camissonia group has a distinct floral tube above the ovary and generally yellow flowers.; vs Oenothera: Gayophytum is a slender diffuse annual with minute (1-2 mm) flowers; Oenothera (evening primrose) has large showy flowers on a long floral tube.; vs Clarkia: Gayophytum flowers are tiny with plain entire petals; Clarkia has larger, often lobed or clawed petals and 4-grooved capsules.; vs Eremothera: Gayophytum has a threadlike branching habit with short capsules held along the stem; Eremothera and Chylismia have basal rosette leaves and longer tubular-based flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gayophytum decipiens native to California?
Yes. Gayophytum decipiens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gayophytum decipiens bloom?
Gayophytum decipiens blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Gayophytum decipiens belong to?
Gayophytum decipiens is in the Onagraceae family, genus Gayophytum.
What habitat does Gayophytum decipiens grow in?
Gayophytum decipiens grows in Pinyon/juniper woodland, pine, fir forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.