Gratiola neglecta
Clammy hedge-hyssop
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Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gratiola neglecta (Clammy hedge-hyssop) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by 2 sepal-like bractlets >= calyx length and larger overall size.
Clammy hedge-hyssop is a California native annual found in central coastal, western Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in wet, muddy places, vernal pools, and lake margins at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces white flowers with a yellow or white tube, approximately 7 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems up to 30 centimeters tall, it can be simple or branched. Its narrow leaves are 5 to 50 millimeters long, elliptic to obovate, with wedge-shaped bases and slightly toothed margins toward the tip. The fruit is an ovoid capsule 4 to 6 millimeters long with acute valve tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by 2 sepal-like bractlets >= calyx length and larger overall size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet, muddy places, vernal pools, sandbars, lake margins
Elevation: < 2000 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, southeastern Canada, South Carolina, central Alabama, southeastern Texas, north-central Arizona, naturalized in western Europe
Bloom period
Gratiola neglecta blooms Jun-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Antirrhinum: Antirrhinum has rounded flower tubes; Gratiola's tube has four distinct angles you can feel.; vs Synthyris: Synthyris has basal leaves only; Gratiola has leaves arranged along the stem.; vs Lindernia: Lindernia has a cylindrical flower tube; Gratiola's tube is distinctly four-angled.; vs Dopatrium: Dopatrium has scale-like upper leaves; Gratiola has normal leaves and four-angled flower tubes.; vs Veronica: Veronica has flat, four-petaled wheel-like flowers; Gratiola has tubular flowers with angled tubes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gratiola neglecta native to California?
Yes. Gratiola neglecta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gratiola neglecta bloom?
Gratiola neglecta blooms Jun-Oct.
What plant family does Gratiola neglecta belong to?
Gratiola neglecta is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Gratiola.
What habitat does Gratiola neglecta grow in?
Gratiola neglecta grows in Wet, muddy places, vernal pools, sandbars, lake margins.
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.