Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola
Serpentine bluecup, Serpentine Bluecup
Photo: parent species Githopsis pulchella · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola (Serpentine bluecup) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by serpentine specialist.
Serpentine bluecup is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native annual found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills in serpentine and Ione Formation outcrops at elevations of 300 to 640 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces light to deep blue-violet flowers 7 to 13 millimeters long with narrowly bell-shaped corollas. Growing with delicate stems 4 to 25 centimeters tall, featuring upper branches 2 to 6 centimeters long with fine or absent hairs. Its small leaves measure 3.5 to 9 millimeters long, with flower bracts positioned 5 to 15 millimeters apart. The plant's ovary is obconic and shallowly ribbed, with a slender style 5 to 9 millimeters long that is papillate in its distal portion.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; serpentine specialist
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine, similar outcrops, and Ione Formation
Elevation: 300-640 m
California counties: Tuolumne, Mariposa, El Dorado, Amador, Stanislaus, Butte
Bloom period
Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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. serpentinicola native to California?
Yes. Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola bloom?
Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola grow?
Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola occurs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, El Dorado, Amador, Stanislaus, Butte, at elevations of 300-640 m.
What plant family does Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola belong to?
Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Githopsis.
Is Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola rare or endangered?
Githopsis pulchella subsp. serpentinicola carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.