Kickxia elatine
Sharp leaved fluellin
(c) M. Whitson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Kickxia elatine (Sharp leaved fluellin) is a non-native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by . Key diagnostic: calyx lobe shape and enlargement in fruit.
Sharp leaved fluellin is a naturalized annual herb found in California's Central and South Coast, Central Western, and South Coast bioregions in disturbed, open places at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to October, this plant produces yellow to blue flowers with a violet upper lip, approximately 7 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with slender, spreading stems that extend across the ground, it forms delicate branching patterns. Its leaves are small and sharp-pointed, arranged alternately along the stems. The fruit is compact, measuring 4 to 4.5 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key diagnostic: calyx lobe shape and enlargement in fruit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed, open places
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Joaquin, Yolo, Napa, Riverside, Mendocino, Butte, Alameda, Solano, Humboldt, Orange, Lake, San Diego, Sonoma, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Contra Costa, Ventura, Tehama, San Luis Obispo, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Nevada, Shasta, Glenn, Santa Clara, Marin, Kern, Colusa, Yuba, Monterey, Del Norte, Santa Barbara, San Mateo, San Benito, Stanislaus
Outside California: native to Europe
Bloom period
Kickxia elatine blooms Apr-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Acmispon: Kickxia has spurred snapdragon-like flowers; Acmispon has pea-family flowers with banner and keel.; vs Nuttallanthus: Kickxia sprawls flat on ground; Nuttallanthus stands upright with flowers in terminal spike.; vs Linaria: Kickxia sprawls with broad heart-shaped leaves; Linaria stands upright with narrow needle-like leaves.; vs Antirrhinum: Kickxia has spurred flowers and sprawling habit; Antirrhinum lacks spurs and grows upright.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kickxia elatine native to California?
No. Kickxia elatine is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Kickxia elatine bloom?
Kickxia elatine blooms Apr-Oct.
Where in California does Kickxia elatine grow?
Kickxia elatine occurs in Los Angeles, San Joaquin, Yolo, Napa, Riverside, Mendocino, Butte, Alameda and other counties, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Kickxia elatine belong to?
Kickxia elatine is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Kickxia.
What habitat does Kickxia elatine grow in?
Kickxia elatine grows in Disturbed, open places.
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.