Gayophytum heterozygum
Zig zag gayophytum
(c) Dean Wm. Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gayophytum heterozygum (Zig zag gayophytum) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by . Key diagnostic: 50% pollen/seed abortion, very irregular lumpy fruits.
Zig zag gayophytum is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountains, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Warner Mountains in open montane forest at elevations of 500 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces small white to pale pink flowers around 2 to 3 millimeters long with distinctive forked branching patterns. Growing with slender stems up to 80 centimeters tall, it develops branches primarily in the upper portion of the plant and exhibits complex, irregularly structured growth. Its leaves are elongated, measuring 1.5 to 6 centimeters long, and become progressively smaller and more reduced towards the stem's upper sections. The fruit is notably irregular and lumpy, measuring 6 to 15 millimeters long, with seeds developing in an asymmetrical pattern and approximately half potentially remaining unviable.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species. Key diagnostic: 50% pollen/seed abortion, very irregular lumpy fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open montane forest
Elevation: 500-3000 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Madera, Butte, Riverside, El Dorado, Amador, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Lake, Placer, Lassen, Sierra, Tulare, Plumas, Shasta, Alpine, Fresno, Modoc, San Bernardino, Nevada, Mariposa, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Mono, Kern, Inyo, Trinity, Humboldt, Tehama, Del Norte, Calaveras, Colusa, San Diego, Mendocino, Ventura, Glenn
Outside California: to Washington, Nevada
Bloom period
Gayophytum heterozygum blooms Jun-Oct.
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 heterozygum native to California?
Yes. Gayophytum heterozygum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gayophytum heterozygum bloom?
Gayophytum heterozygum blooms Jun-Oct.
Where in California does Gayophytum heterozygum grow?
Gayophytum heterozygum occurs in Los Angeles, Madera, Butte, Riverside, El Dorado, Amador, Siskiyou, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of 500-3000 m.
What plant family does Gayophytum heterozygum belong to?
Gayophytum heterozygum is in the Onagraceae family, genus Gayophytum.
What habitat does Gayophytum heterozygum grow in?
Gayophytum heterozygum grows in Open montane forest.
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.