Githopsis tenella
Delicate bluecup, Delicate Bluecup
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Githopsis tenella (Delicate bluecup) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by smallest in genus with cleistogamous flowers.
Delicate bluecup is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada foothills in Kern and Tulare counties, possibly extending to southern South Coast Ranges in Cholame Hills, Monterey County, occurring in moist places within oak woodland at elevations of 1,100 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces deep blue flowers less than 3 millimeters long with a cylindric shape and lobes shorter than the flower tube. Growing with clambering to erect hairy stems 3 to 9 centimeters tall, it appears delicate and compact. Its small leaves measure 4 to 6.5 millimeters long, with ovate bracts 2 to 5.6 millimeters in length spaced less than 5 millimeters apart. The plant frequently produces cleistogamous flowers with an obconic ovary featuring 10 subtle ribs that are slightly raised at the sinuses.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; smallest in genus with cleistogamous flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist places in oak woodland
Elevation: 1100-1900 m
Bloom period
Githopsis tenella blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 tenella native to California?
Yes. Githopsis tenella is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Githopsis tenella bloom?
Githopsis tenella blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Githopsis tenella belong to?
Githopsis tenella is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Githopsis.
Is Githopsis tenella rare or endangered?
Githopsis tenella carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Githopsis tenella grow in?
Githopsis tenella grows in Moist places in oak woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Githopsis diffusa — San Gabriel bluecup
- Githopsis diffusa subsp. candida
- Githopsis diffusa subsp. diffusa
- Githopsis diffusa subsp. filicaulis — Mission canyon bluecup
- Githopsis diffusa subsp. robusta
- Githopsis pulchella — Largeflower bluecup
- Heterocodon rariflorum — Few flowered heterocodon
- Heterocodon sp.
- Howellia aquatilis — Water howellia
- Howellia sp.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.