Leptosiphon pygmaeus
Pygmy linanthus
(c) Millie Basden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Leptosiphon pygmaeus (Pygmy linanthus) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by tiny size, single flowers on long pedicels, short tube diagnostic.
Pygmy linanthus is a California native annual found in dry, open areas at low to moderate elevations. Flowering from April to June, this delicate plant produces white or pale blue flowers with small funnel-shaped corollas. Growing with slender, branching stems just 2 to 10 centimeters tall, it forms tiny, thread-like clusters near the base of the plant. Its leaves are composed of extremely fine, thread-like lobes 2 to 6 millimeters long, giving the plant a wispy, fragile appearance. Each flower emerges individually on slender pedicels 4 to 15 millimeters long, creating a subtle and intricate botanical display.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; tiny size, single flowers on long pedicels, short tube diagnostic
Habitat and range
California counties: Tehama, Mendocino, Glenn, Trinity, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Nevada, Santa Clara, Lake, Tulare, Ventura, Monterey
How to tell it apart
vs Linanthus: Leptosiphon flowers open in daytime on stalks >2mm; Linanthus flowers often open at dusk/night on very short stalks.; vs Phlox: Leptosiphon leaves are deeply divided into fingers; Phlox leaves are completely undivided.; vs Navarretia: Leptosiphon has soft, flexible leaf lobes; Navarretia has rigid, spine-tipped leaf lobes and bracts.; vs Gilia: Leptosiphon has opposite palmately-lobed leaves; Gilia has alternate pinnately-lobed leaves.; vs Sabulina: Leptosiphon has tubular 5-petaled flowers and lobed leaves; Sabulina has 5 separate petals and needle-like leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leptosiphon pygmaeus native to California?
Yes. Leptosiphon pygmaeus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Leptosiphon pygmaeus grow?
Leptosiphon pygmaeus occurs in Tehama, Mendocino, Glenn, Trinity, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Nevada and other counties.
What plant family does Leptosiphon pygmaeus belong to?
Leptosiphon pygmaeus is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Leptosiphon.
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.