Linanthus orcuttii
Orcutt's linanthus
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Linanthus orcuttii (Orcutt's linanthus) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by color-grading tube and distinctive purple marking pattern.
Orcutt's linanthus is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in the Peninsular Ranges and desert regions in chaparral, pine forest, and desert scrub at elevations of 1,100 to 2,150 meters. Flowering from April to June, this delicate plant produces white to purple flowers with a distinctive funnel-shaped corolla, the tube grading from white to purple and featuring pink lobes with two purple marks at the base. Growing with slender stems 5 to 10 centimeters tall and sparsely covered with fine hairs, it has a compact, low-growing form. Its leaves are divided into linear lobes 5 to 12 millimeters long, each delicately hairy and creating a feathery appearance. The plant produces small obovoid fruits containing 15 to 30 seeds, nestled within the flower's calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; color-grading tube and distinctive purple marking pattern
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, pine forest, desert scrub
Elevation: 1100-2150 m
California counties: San Diego, San Bernardino
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Linanthus orcuttii blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 orcuttii native to California?
Yes. Linanthus orcuttii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Linanthus orcuttii bloom?
Linanthus orcuttii blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Linanthus orcuttii grow?
Linanthus orcuttii occurs in San Diego, San Bernardino, at elevations of 1100-2150 m.
What plant family does Linanthus orcuttii belong to?
Linanthus orcuttii is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Linanthus.
Is Linanthus orcuttii rare or endangered?
Linanthus orcuttii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.