Krameria erecta
Pima rhatany, purple heather, little-leaved rhatany, Little-Leaved Rhatany
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Krameriaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Krameria erecta (Pima rhatany) is a native California shrub in the Krameriaceae family, recognized by key differences are growth habit, branch tips, and fruit shape.
Pima rhatany is a California native perennial found in the eastern Peninsular Range, including the Santa Rosa Mountains, and desert regions on dry, rocky ridges and slopes at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces magenta sepals and yellow to green flag petals with distinctive purple markings. Growing with strigose or silky-hairy stems up to 2 meters tall and often with ascending branches, it has a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves are approximately linear to lance-linear, sparse and narrow. The fruit is uniquely cordate and slightly flattened, reflecting the plant's intricate desert adaptation.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differences are growth habit, branch tips, and fruit shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky ridges, slopes
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial
Outside California: to Nevada, Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Krameria erecta blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Coleogyne: Krameria has rose-purple irregular flowers; Coleogyne has yellow radially symmetrical flowers.; vs Eriogonum: Krameria has orchid-like bilateral flowers with visible stamens; Eriogonum has tiny radial flowers in dense heads.; vs Ephedra: Krameria has showy rose-purple flowers; Ephedra has inconspicuous scale-like flowers and jointed green stems.; vs Nicolletia: Krameria has irregular single flowers; Nicolletia has composite flower heads typical of Asteraceae.; vs Thamnosma: Krameria has lopsided flowers with barbed fruit; Thamnosma has radial 4-petaled flowers with smooth capsules.
Frequently asked questions
Is Krameria erecta native to California?
Yes. Krameria erecta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Krameria erecta bloom?
Krameria erecta blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Krameria erecta grow?
Krameria erecta occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Krameria erecta belong to?
Krameria erecta is in the Krameriaceae family, genus Krameria.
What habitat does Krameria erecta grow in?
Krameria erecta grows in Dry, rocky ridges, 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.