Gilia brecciarum
Break gilia, nevada gilia, Nevada Gilia
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia brecciarum (Break gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family.
Break gilia is a California native annual herb found in rocky and open areas at moderate elevations. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces delicate flowers with purple-tinged calyx lobes and white to pale lavender corollas 8 to 20 millimeters long. Growing with spreading or erect stems 8 to 35 centimeters tall, it forms densely tufted clusters with woolly hairs near the base. Its leaves are intricately divided, with 2-pinnate basal leaves forming suberect clusters and upper cauline leaves featuring finger-like lobes with a distinctive wider terminal segment. Occasionally emitting a skunk-like odor, this unique annual produces widely ovoid fruits 4 to 7 millimeters long containing 18 to 33 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated - 0 sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Los Angeles, Ventura, Lassen, Plumas, Tulare, Inyo, Mono, Modoc, San Luis Obispo
How to tell it apart
vs Saltugilia: Gilia has white cobwebby or sharply bent hairs; Saltugilia has translucent, barely glandular hairs.; vs Navarretia: Gilia has cobwebby/bent hairs; Navarretia has very short uniform glandular hairs and spiny flower heads.; vs Phacelia: Gilia has white cobwebby hairs; Phacelia has coiled flower clusters and straight bristly hairs.; vs Allophyllum: Gilia has white cobwebby or bent hairs; Allophyllum has long fuzzy glandular hairs.; vs Aliciella: Gilia has funnel-shaped flowers; Aliciella has wheel-shaped flowers with spreading lobes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gilia brecciarum native to California?
Yes. Gilia brecciarum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Gilia brecciarum grow?
Gilia brecciarum occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Los Angeles, Ventura, Lassen, Plumas, Tulare and other counties.
What plant family does Gilia brecciarum belong to?
Gilia brecciarum is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
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.