Horkeliella congdonis
Congdon's false horkelia
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Horkeliella congdonis (Congdon's false horkelia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by habitat (sagebrush flats vs forest edges), plant color/stickiness, and pedicel length.
Congdon's false horkelia is a California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada (eastern slope), western Southeastern Desert, and Coso Range Mountains of the Desert Mountains in meadows and sagebrush flats at elevations of 1,500 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces white to cream flowers approximately 15 millimeters wide with delicate oblong-oblanceolate petals. Growing with glandular-sticky green stems, it forms clusters with leafy basal rosettes containing 25 to 35 leaflets on each side. Its basal leaves are typically 8 to 25 centimeters long, with small leaflets measuring 2 to 6 millimeters, while the plant carries 2 to 7 cauline leaves. The inflorescence is relatively dense, with flower pedicels generally around 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by habitat (sagebrush flats vs forest edges), plant color/stickiness, and pedicel length
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows in sagebrush flats
Elevation: 1500-3100 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, Tulare, Sierra
Bloom period
Horkeliella congdonis blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Horkelia: Horkeliella has 20 stamens and 15-35 fine leaflets per side; Horkelia has 10 stamens and 2-15 leaflets.; vs Ivesia: Horkeliella has flat leaves with distinct leaflets; Ivesia has cylindrical bottlebrush leaves with overlapping leaflets.; vs Drymocallis: Horkeliella has 20 stamens and thread-like filaments; Drymocallis has 20+ stamens and club-shaped styles.; vs Potentilla: Horkeliella has exactly 20 stamens and flattened filaments; Potentilla has 20+ stamens and thread-like filaments.; vs Comarum: Horkeliella has white-pink petals larger than sepals; Comarum has dark red petals smaller than sepals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Horkeliella congdonis native to California?
Yes. Horkeliella congdonis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Horkeliella congdonis bloom?
Horkeliella congdonis blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Horkeliella congdonis grow?
Horkeliella congdonis occurs in Inyo, Mono, Tulare, Sierra, at elevations of 1500-3100 m.
What plant family does Horkeliella congdonis belong to?
Horkeliella congdonis is in the Rosaceae family, genus Horkeliella.
What habitat does Horkeliella congdonis grow in?
Horkeliella congdonis grows in Meadows in sagebrush flats.
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.