Hypertelis umbellata
Carpet weed
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Rebelo · licence
Family: Molluginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Hypertelis umbellata (Carpet weed) is a non-native California herb in the Molluginaceae family.
Carpet weed is a naturalized perennial found in the Sonoran Desert and southern desert regions in sandy washes, seasonal pools, flats, and slopes at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from September to March, this plant produces small white or cream-colored flowers in clusters of 3 to 4 blooms. Growing with glaucous stems 3 to 20 centimeters tall, it forms dense, low-growing clusters with distinctive whorled leaf arrangements. Its leaves grow in whorls of 4 to 10, each linear leaf measuring 3 to 15 millimeters long. The fruit is approximately spherical, containing small brown seeds.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Seasonal pools, sandy washes, flats, slopes
Elevation: < 1700 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, Imperial
Outside California: to Texas, Mexico, temperate areas, tropics, subtropics, native to Old World
Bloom period
Hypertelis umbellata blooms Sep-Mar.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hypertelis umbellata native to California?
No. Hypertelis umbellata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Hypertelis umbellata bloom?
Hypertelis umbellata blooms Sep-Mar.
Where in California does Hypertelis umbellata grow?
Hypertelis umbellata occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, Imperial, at elevations of < 1700 m.
What plant family does Hypertelis umbellata belong to?
Hypertelis umbellata is in the Molluginaceae family, genus Hypertelis.
What habitat does Hypertelis umbellata grow in?
Hypertelis umbellata grows in Uncommon. Seasonal pools, sandy washes, flats, slopes.
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.