Githopsis pulchella subsp. campestris
Photo: parent species Githopsis pulchella · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Githopsis pulchella subsp. campestris is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by compact growth and deeply ribbed fruit.
Githopsis is a California native annual found in the northern California Cascades and northern and central Sierra Nevada in open volcanic places at elevations of 60 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this delicate plant produces bright blue flowers with bell-shaped corollas 11 to 15 millimeters long, spreading 7 to 10 millimeters wide at the tube top. Growing with slender stems 8 to 13 centimeters tall and upper branches 1.5 to 3 centimeters long, it has a delicate, spreading form. Its leaves measure 8 to 13 millimeters long, with compact inflorescence bracts spaced less than 5 millimeters apart. The fruit features an obconic ovary 5.5 to 7 millimeters long with dense, stiff, recurved hairs and deeply ribbed surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; compact growth and deeply ribbed fruit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Open places, volcanic soil
Elevation: 60-1000 m
Bloom period
Githopsis pulchella subsp. campestris blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Campanula: Campanula flowers on stalks along stem; Githopsis flowers cluster at stem tips with ragged-opening capsules.; vs Asyneuma: Asyneuma has 2-4 flowers per node along stem; Githopsis has flowers massed at stem tips.; vs Triodanis: Triodanis flowers press to stem in leaf joints; Githopsis flowers cluster at stem tips.; vs Heterocodon: Heterocodon flowers press to stem with huge leafy sepals; Githopsis flowers sit at stem tips with small bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Githopsis pulchella subsp. campestris native to California?
Yes. Githopsis pulchella subsp. campestris is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Githopsis pulchella subsp. campestris bloom?
Githopsis pulchella subsp. campestris blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Githopsis pulchella subsp. campestris belong to?
Githopsis pulchella subsp. campestris is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Githopsis.
What habitat does Githopsis pulchella subsp. campestris grow in?
Githopsis pulchella subsp. campestris grows in Uncommon. Open places, volcanic soil.
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.