Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa
Josephine horkelia
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa (Josephine horkelia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Josephine horkelia is a rare California native (CNPS 2B.1) perennial found in the northwestern Klamath Ranges of Del Norte County in vernally moist, rocky serpentine habitats at elevations of 300 to 800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white flowers in small, head-like clusters with 5 to 15 blooms. Growing with glandular-hairy stems 15 to 30 centimeters tall in a tufted or rosetted form, it has a compact, gray-green appearance. Its compound leaves feature 2 to 5 leaflets on each side, each leaflet elliptic and less than 5-toothed, densely hairy and measuring 5 to 12 millimeters long. The plant forms a simple or few-branched caudex, creating a dense, low-growing cluster in its rocky serpentine habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernally moist, rocky clay, generally serpentine
Elevation: 300-800 m
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Drymocallis: Horkelia has exactly 10 stamens and white-pink flowers; Drymocallis has 20+ stamens and yellow-white flowers.; vs Erodium: Horkelia has pinnate leaves and rose-family flowers; Erodium has lobed/divided leaves and long-beaked fruits.; vs Phacelia: Horkelia has rose-family flowers with separate petals; Phacelia has bell-shaped fused corollas with protruding stamens.; vs Potentilla: Horkelia has exactly 10 stamens and flattened filaments; Potentilla has 20+ stamens and thread-like filaments.; vs Ivesia: Horkelia has flat leaves with 2-15 separated leaflets; Ivesia has cylindrical bottlebrush leaves with overlapping leaflets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa native to California?
Yes. Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa bloom?
Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa belong to?
Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa is in the Rosaceae family, genus Horkelia.
Is Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa rare or endangered?
Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa grow in?
Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa grows in Vernally moist, rocky clay, generally serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.