Gymnosteris parvula
Small flowered gymnosteris
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gymnosteris parvula (Small flowered gymnosteris) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by Monotypic genus, high-elevation western North American endemic.
Small flowered gymnosteris is a California native annual found in northern and central Sierra Nevada and Great Basin areas in gravelly and sandy meadows and wet scrub depressions at elevations of 2,400 to 3,700 meters. Flowering from May to June, this delicate plant produces white to pink-tinged flowers less than 7 millimeters long with slender, acuminate lobes. Growing with diminutive stems less than 7 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters in alpine and subalpine environments. Its small lanceolate to ovate bracts range from 2 to 13 millimeters long and are typically glabrous. The plant's tiny calyx measures less than 4 millimeters, complementing its subtle, miniature floral structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Monotypic genus, high-elevation western North American endemic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly, sandy areas, generally in meadows or wet depressions in scrub
Elevation: 2400-3700 m
California counties: Mono, Siskiyou, Inyo, Lassen, Nevada, Modoc, Sierra
Outside California: to Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado
Bloom period
Gymnosteris parvula blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Microsteris: Gymnosteris has a naked, leafless stem topped by a whorl of bracts and flowers; Microsteris has opposite leaves along the stem and paired flowers in the forks.; vs Collomia: Gymnosteris is a tiny (under 7 cm) plant with leaves reduced to a terminal bract cluster; Collomia is leafy-stemmed with alternate lance leaves and dense terminal flower heads.; vs Leptosiphon: Gymnosteris has entire bracts massed at the stem tip; Leptosiphon has opposite, palmately cleft, needle-lobed leaves along the stem.; vs Linanthus: Gymnosteris has undivided bracts and a leafless lower stem; Linanthus has opposite, palmately dissected thread-like leaf lobes.; vs Navarretia: Gymnosteris is soft and unarmed with entire bracts; Navarretia has spine-tipped, pinnately divided bracts forming prickly heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gymnosteris parvula native to California?
Yes. Gymnosteris parvula is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gymnosteris parvula bloom?
Gymnosteris parvula blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Gymnosteris parvula grow?
Gymnosteris parvula occurs in Mono, Siskiyou, Inyo, Lassen, Nevada, Modoc, Sierra, at elevations of 2400-3700 m.
What plant family does Gymnosteris parvula belong to?
Gymnosteris parvula is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gymnosteris.
What habitat does Gymnosteris parvula grow in?
Gymnosteris parvula grows in Gravelly, sandy areas, generally in meadows or wet depressions in scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.