Lithophragma tenellum
Slender woodland star
(c) Mark Pollock, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mark Pollock · licence
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lithophragma tenellum (Slender woodland star) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by pink 5-7-lobed petals and smooth seeds.
Slender woodland star is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada Borderlands, Sierra Nevada Brightline, and Modoc Plateau in dry areas at elevations of 1,300 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces delicate pink or occasionally white flowers with 5 to 7 lobes, each 3 to 7 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 8 to 30 centimeters tall, it has a delicate and graceful form. Its basal leaves are distinctive, with deeply divided blades that feature three main lobes, each of those lobes further subdivided with rounded teeth. The plant's tiny flowers are held on short pedicels and feature a hemispheric hypanthium that partially fuses with the ovary.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; pink 5-7-lobed petals and smooth seeds are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry areas
Elevation: 1300-3000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Plumas, Modoc, Lassen, Kern, San Diego, Amador, Sierra, Tehama, Butte, Siskiyou, Placer, Shasta, Mendocino, Tulare, Trinity, Madera, Santa Barbara, El Dorado, Nevada, Merced, Alpine
Outside California: to British Columbia, Colorado, New Mexico
Bloom period
Lithophragma tenellum blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Delphinium: Lithophragma has regular 5-petaled flowers; Delphinium has irregular spurred flowers with hood-like upper petals.; vs Bowlesia: Lithophragma has showy pink-white flowers in clusters; Bowlesia has tiny greenish flowers in tight umbels.; vs Geranium: Lithophragma petals are fringed/lobed and has 3 styles; Geranium petals are entire and has 5 styles.; vs Lysimachia: Lithophragma has 3 styles and deeply lobed leaves; Lysimachia has 1 style and simple leaves.; vs Horkelia: Lithophragma has 3 styles and palmately lobed leaves; Horkelia has many styles and pinnately compound leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lithophragma tenellum native to California?
Yes. Lithophragma tenellum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lithophragma tenellum bloom?
Lithophragma tenellum blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Lithophragma tenellum grow?
Lithophragma tenellum occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Plumas, Modoc, Lassen, Kern, San Diego, Amador and other counties, at elevations of 1300-3000 m.
What plant family does Lithophragma tenellum belong to?
Lithophragma tenellum is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Lithophragma.
What habitat does Lithophragma tenellum grow in?
Lithophragma tenellum grows in dry areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lithophragma affine — Common woodland star
- Lithophragma bolanderi — Bolander's woodland star
- Lithophragma campanulatum — Siskiyou mountain woodland star
- Lithophragma cymbalaria — Mission star
- Lithophragma glabrum — Bulbed woodland star
- Lithophragma heterophyllum — Hill star
- Micranthes aprica — Sierra saxifrage
- Micranthes bryophora — Bud saxifrage
- Micranthes californica — Greene's saxifrage
- Micranthes ferruginea — Rusty hair saxifrage
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.