Gilia leptantha subsp. purpusii
Purpus' fineflowered gilia, Purpus' Fineflowered Gilia
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tom Hilton · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia leptantha subsp. purpusii (Purpus' fineflowered gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by . Key features: slender tube 2-4× calyx, stamens exserted but exceeded by lobes.
Purpus' fineflowered gilia is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in open, rocky or sandy forest and chaparral habitats at elevations of 700 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces delicate flowers with a slender corolla tube 13 to 23 millimeters long and flared throat, with lobes 3 to 5 millimeters wide. Growing with stems less than 60 centimeters tall, the plant develops in sparse, open landscapes. Its leaves are delicate and finely structured, complementing the plant's slender growth habit. The fruit is small, measuring 3 to 8 millimeters long and varying from ovoid to obovoid in shape.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species. Key features: slender tube 2-4× calyx, stamens exserted but exceeded by lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open, rocky or sandy soil in forests, chaparral
Elevation: 700-2900 m
Bloom period
Gilia leptantha subsp. purpusii blooms May-Jul.
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 leptantha subsp. purpusii native to California?
Yes. Gilia leptantha subsp. purpusii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia leptantha subsp. purpusii bloom?
Gilia leptantha subsp. purpusii blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Gilia leptantha subsp. purpusii belong to?
Gilia leptantha subsp. purpusii is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
What habitat does Gilia leptantha subsp. purpusii grow in?
Gilia leptantha subsp. purpusii grows in Common. Open, rocky or sandy soil in forests, chaparral.
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.