Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica
Yellow purpusia, Yellow Purpusia
(c) Dominic Gentilcore, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dominic Gentilcore · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica (Yellow purpusia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by distinctive leaflet arrangement.
Yellow purpusia is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the northern Desert Mountains of Inyo County in limestone crevices at elevations of 1,200 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces yellow flowers approximately 4 to 10 millimeters wide in open clusters. Growing in compact green rosettes or hanging clumps with stems 5 to 10 centimeters tall, it has a delicate, clustered growth pattern. Its leaves are generally 5 to 10 centimeters long with 2 to 4 leaflets on each side, each leaflet approximately 5 to 15 millimeters long, rounded and evenly toothed. The fruit is small, pale, and slightly ridged, measuring 1.5 to 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinctive leaflet arrangement
Habitat and range
Habitat: Limestone crevices
Elevation: 1200-3100 m
California counties: Inyo
Outside California: southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona
Bloom period
Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica blooms May-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Achillea: Ivesia has rose-like flowers with separate petals; Achillea has composite flower heads with ray and disk flowers.; vs Potentilla: Ivesia has cylindrical bottlebrush leaves with 4-80 tiny leaflets per side; Potentilla has flat leaves with spread-out leaflets.; vs Horkelia: Ivesia has cylindrical leaves with overlapping leaflets; Horkelia has flat leaves with 2-15 distinct, separated leaflets.; vs Eremogone: Ivesia has compound bottlebrush leaves; Eremogone has simple, needle-like or thread-like leaves.; vs Cryptantha: Ivesia has rose-family flowers with separate petals; Cryptantha has fused tubular corollas typical of borages.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica native to California?
Yes. Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica bloom?
Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica grow?
Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica occurs in Inyo, at elevations of 1200-3100 m.
What plant family does Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica belong to?
Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica is in the Rosaceae family, genus Ivesia.
Is Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica rare or endangered?
Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.