Ipomopsis polycladon
Branching gilia
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Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ipomopsis polycladon (Branching gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by annual habit, prostrate growth, and very small flowers.
Branching gilia is a California native annual found in the Great Basin and eastern Mojave Desert in sandy and gravelly soils at elevations of 750 to 2,150 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces delicate white flowers less than 6 millimeters long in compact terminal head-like clusters. Growing with decumbent to prostrate stems less than 10 centimeters tall and covered in glandular hairs, the plant has a delicate, spreading form. Its leaves are less than 2 centimeters long, varying from entire to toothed or pinnately lobed with 5 to 7 segments, and are densely clustered near the plant's flowering structure. The small ellipsoid fruit measures less than 5 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; key features are annual habit, prostrate growth, and very small flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy, gravelly soils
Elevation: 750-2150 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Mono, Lassen, Nevada
Outside California: to Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Ipomopsis polycladon blooms Mar-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Penstemon: Ipomopsis has radial or slightly bilateral tubular flowers; Penstemon has distinctly 2-lipped bilateral flowers.; vs Epilobium: Ipomopsis has tubular 5-petaled flowers in dense clusters; Epilobium has 4 spreading petals and long capsules.; vs Silene: Ipomopsis has tubular flowers with fused petals; Silene has separate petals emerging from inflated calyx.; vs Delphinium: Ipomopsis has radial tubular flowers; Delphinium has spurred bilateral flowers with upper hooded petals.; vs Castilleja: Ipomopsis has showy tubular flowers; Castilleja has colorful bracts hiding small tubular flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ipomopsis polycladon native to California?
Yes. Ipomopsis polycladon is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ipomopsis polycladon bloom?
Ipomopsis polycladon blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Ipomopsis polycladon grow?
Ipomopsis polycladon occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Mono, Lassen, Nevada, at elevations of 750-2150 m.
What plant family does Ipomopsis polycladon belong to?
Ipomopsis polycladon is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Ipomopsis.
What habitat does Ipomopsis polycladon grow in?
Ipomopsis polycladon grows in Sandy, gravelly soils.
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.