Langloisia setosissima
Bristly langloisia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Langloisia setosissima (Bristly langloisia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by Only Langloisia in CA (the 2 listed 'congeners' are its own subspecies); bristly desert annual, leaf teeth each bristle-tipped.
Bristly langloisia is a California native annual found in desert and interior valleys, growing in open, dry habitats. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white to blue flowers in compact head-like clusters with distinctive bristly features. Growing with erect stems 5 to 20 centimeters tall, it has a delicate, branching habit with sparse, bristly hairs. Its leaves are primarily alternate and linear, with 3 to 5 tiny bristle-tipped teeth at the leaf apex, creating a distinctive spiky appearance. The plant's seeds become gelatinous when wet, adding to its unique botanical characteristics.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Langloisia in CA (the 2 listed 'congeners' are its own subspecies); bristly desert annual, leaf teeth each bristle-tipped
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Imperial, Riverside, San Diego
How to tell it apart
vs Loeseliastrum: Langloisia flowers are perfectly radially symmetric; Loeseliastrum flowers are distinctly lopsided/bilateral.; vs Eriastrum: Langloisia has stiff branched bristly hairs; Eriastrum has soft woolly tufted white hairs.; vs Gilia: Langloisia has extremely bristly texture with branched hairs; Gilia lacks this bristly texture.; vs Phlox: Langloisia is desert annual with bristly divided leaves; Phlox is perennial with smooth undivided leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Langloisia setosissima native to California?
Yes. Langloisia setosissima is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Langloisia setosissima grow?
Langloisia setosissima occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Imperial, Riverside, San Diego.
What plant family does Langloisia setosissima belong to?
Langloisia setosissima is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Langloisia.
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.