Harpagonella palmeri
Palmer's grapplinghook
(c) Eric Knight, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Harpagonella palmeri (Palmer's grapplinghook) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by Only Harpagonella species in California, southern California endemic.
Palmer's grapplinghook is a California native perennial found in southern California, the Peninsular Ranges, and southwestern desert regions in open chaparral, coastal scrub, and grassland habitats at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from January to May, this plant produces small flowers with delicate white to pale lavender petals. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters in open landscapes. Its leaves are typically small, narrow, and arranged alternately along the stem, with a subtle grayish-green coloration. The fruit is distinctively covered with hooked prickles 1.5 to 3.2 millimeters long, giving the plant its unique "grapplinghook" name.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Harpagonella species in California, southern California endemic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open sites in chaparral, coastal scrub, grassland, often on clay soils
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Alpine
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Harpagonella palmeri blooms Jan-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Pectocarya: Harpagonella has 2 nutlets with huge arching spiny sepals; Pectocarya has 4 nutlets with equal sepals.; vs Cynoglossum: Harpagonella has white flowers and hooked sepal spines; Cynoglossum has blue/purple flowers and barbed nutlet prickles.
Frequently asked questions
Is Harpagonella palmeri native to California?
Yes. Harpagonella palmeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Harpagonella palmeri bloom?
Harpagonella palmeri blooms Jan-May.
Where in California does Harpagonella palmeri grow?
Harpagonella palmeri occurs in Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Alpine, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Harpagonella palmeri belong to?
Harpagonella palmeri is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Harpagonella.
Is Harpagonella palmeri rare or endangered?
Harpagonella palmeri carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.