Linanthus inyoensis
Inyo gilia
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Linanthus inyoensis (Inyo gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by perennial with yellow tube/throat included in calyx.
Inyo gilia is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada and eastern Sierra Nevada in open, sandy pine forests and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,900 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white flowers with yellow tube and throat, approximately 4 to 7 millimeters long, delicately positioned on thread-like pedicels. Growing with fine, white-jointed stems 3 to 10 centimeters tall that have spreading branches, it develops distinctive branching patterns with sparse, glandular hairs. Its leaves range from oblanceolate to obovate, with basal leaves 4 to 8 millimeters long and cauline leaves 3 to 6 millimeters long, often entire or lightly toothed and spreading or recurved. The small fruits contain 10 to 15 seeds per chamber, typically not becoming gelatinous when wet.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; perennial with yellow tube/throat included in calyx
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open, sandy flats in pine forest or sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1900-2600 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, Tulare, Kern
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Linanthus inyoensis blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Phlox: Linanthus has alternate leaves; Phlox has opposite leaves paired along the stem.; vs Leptosiphon: Linanthus has rigid, sharp leaf tips and nocturnal flowers; Leptosiphon has soft leaf tips and day-blooming flowers.; vs Gilia: Linanthus has wheel-shaped flowers with lobes longer than tube; Gilia has narrow funnel flowers with tube longer than lobes.; vs Coleonema: Linanthus has palm-divided leaves and phlox flowers; Coleonema has needle-like leaves and 5-petaled star flowers.; vs Navarretia: Linanthus has open wheel flowers and non-spiny leaves; Navarretia has tiny tube flowers hidden in spiny bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Linanthus inyoensis native to California?
Yes. Linanthus inyoensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Linanthus inyoensis bloom?
Linanthus inyoensis blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Linanthus inyoensis grow?
Linanthus inyoensis occurs in Inyo, Mono, Tulare, Kern, at elevations of 1900-2600 m.
What plant family does Linanthus inyoensis belong to?
Linanthus inyoensis is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Linanthus.
What habitat does Linanthus inyoensis grow in?
Linanthus inyoensis grows in Common. Open, sandy flats in pine forest or sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Linanthus jaegeri — San jacinto linanthus
- Linanthus jonesii — Jones linanthus
- Linanthus killipii — Baldwin lake linanthus
- Linanthus maculatus — Little san bernardino mountains linanthus
- Linanthus maculatus subsp. emaculatus — Jacumba Mountains linanthus
- Linanthus maculatus subsp. maculatus — Little San Bernardino Mtns. linanthus
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.