Hesperolinon clevelandii
Allen springs dwarf flax
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Linaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hesperolinon clevelandii (Allen springs dwarf flax) is a native California herb in the Linaceae family, recognized by extremely small petals and short styles.
Allen springs dwarf flax is a California native annual found in northern and central California Coast Ranges, including San Francisco Bay Area, in chaparral margins and oak woodlands on serpentine soils at elevations of 150 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces tiny yellow flowers less than 2 millimeters long in unequally forked inflorescences. Growing with slender stems 5 to 20 centimeters tall and nearly smooth throughout, it has a delicate, compact structure. Its leaves are linear and alternate, arranged sparsely along the thin stems. The plant's diminutive yellow flowers and preference for serpentine soils make it a distinctive component of California's specialized chaparral ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; distinguished by extremely small petals and short styles
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral margins, oak woodland, often on serpentine
Elevation: 150-1400 m
California counties: Mendocino, Lake, Stanislaus, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Napa, Solano, Alameda, Shasta
Bloom period
Hesperolinon clevelandii blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Linum: Hesperolinon has 2-3 styles and whorled basal leaves; Linum has 5 styles and alternate leaves.; vs Gayophytum: Hesperolinon has whorled leaves and 2-3 styles; Gayophytum has alternate leaves and 4-parted flowers.; vs Eremogone: Hesperolinon has 2-3 styles; Eremogone has 3 styles and opposite leaves throughout.; vs Nemacladus: Hesperolinon has regular radial flowers; Nemacladus has strongly bilateral flowers.; vs Sclerolinon: Hesperolinon has 3 styles and stipule glands present; Sclerolinon has 2 club-shaped styles and no glands.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hesperolinon clevelandii native to California?
Yes. Hesperolinon clevelandii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hesperolinon clevelandii bloom?
Hesperolinon clevelandii blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Hesperolinon clevelandii grow?
Hesperolinon clevelandii occurs in Mendocino, Lake, Stanislaus, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Napa, Solano, Alameda and other counties, at elevations of 150-1400 m.
What plant family does Hesperolinon clevelandii belong to?
Hesperolinon clevelandii is in the Linaceae family, genus Hesperolinon.
What habitat does Hesperolinon clevelandii grow in?
Hesperolinon clevelandii grows in Chaparral margins, oak woodland, often on serpentine.
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.