Kallstroemia parviflora
Few flowered caltrop
(c) Catherine C. Galley, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Zygophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Kallstroemia parviflora (Few flowered caltrop) is a native California herb in the Zygophyllaceae family, recognized by . Key differences: elevation preference, petal color (orange vs yellow) and pedicel length.
Few flowered caltrop is a California native annual found in central peninsular ranges near Warner Hot Springs, San Diego County, and eastern Mojave Desert on sandy roadsides and slopes at elevations of 1,500 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces vibrant orange petals 6 to 12 millimeters long on delicate blossoms. Growing with prostrate to decumbent stems less than one meter long, the plant spreads low across sandy terrain with a strigose to glabrous surface. Its leaves feature 6 to 10 leaflets with small stipules 5 to 7 millimeters long, creating a fine, intricate foliage structure. The fruit is an ovoid shape 4 to 6 millimeters wide, with a style extending up to three times the fruit body.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key differences: elevation preference, petal color (orange vs yellow) and pedicel length
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Sandy roadsides, slopes
Elevation: 1500-2000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego
Outside California: to central United States, central Mexico
Bloom period
Kallstroemia parviflora blooms Aug-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Tribulus: Kallstroemia fruits are bumpy but harmless; Tribulus fruits have 2-4 stout tire-puncturing spines.; vs Eschscholzia: Kallstroemia has compound feather-like leaves; Eschscholzia has finely dissected lacy leaves and bright orange poppy flowers.; vs Zygophyllum: Kallstroemia has 6-18 thin leaflets per leaf; Zygophyllum has only 2 thick fleshy leaflets.; vs Larrea: Kallstroemia is a sprawling annual with orange flowers; Larrea is an upright shrub with yellow flowers.; vs Fagonia: Kallstroemia has soft feather-like leaves without spines; Fagonia has three rigid spine-tipped leaflets per leaf.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kallstroemia parviflora native to California?
Yes. Kallstroemia parviflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Kallstroemia parviflora bloom?
Kallstroemia parviflora blooms Aug-Oct.
Where in California does Kallstroemia parviflora grow?
Kallstroemia parviflora occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, at elevations of 1500-2000 m.
What plant family does Kallstroemia parviflora belong to?
Kallstroemia parviflora is in the Zygophyllaceae family, genus Kallstroemia.
Is Kallstroemia parviflora rare or endangered?
Kallstroemia parviflora carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
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.