Loeflingia squarrosa
Spreading pygmyleaf, Spreading Pygmyleaf
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Loeflingia squarrosa (Spreading pygmyleaf) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by distinctive glandular-hairy, fleshy habit with cleistogamous flowers.
Spreading pygmyleaf is a California native annual found in the San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, southern California, Peninsular Ranges, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert in sandy or gravelly areas of hills, mesas, and dunes at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this plant produces tiny white to pale flowers in small clusters. Growing with stiff, much-branched stems 1 to 12 centimeters tall and glandular-hairy texture, it forms a compact, fleshy-looking plant. Its leaves are short, 2 to 7 millimeters long, with erect to slightly curved blades that have bristly tips and fused bases forming a scarious sheath. The fruit develops with hardened, awned sepals, creating a distinctive three-angled seed capsule.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners; distinctive glandular-hairy, fleshy habit with cleistogamous flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand, gravel of hills, mesas, dunes, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: Kern, Ventura, Riverside, Los Angeles, Lassen, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Mono, Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Monterey, Plumas, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Tulare, Kings
Outside California: to Oregon, Nebraska, Arkansas, Texas, northern Baja California
Bloom period
Loeflingia squarrosa blooms Spring-summer.
How to tell it apart
vs Lastarriaea: Loeflingia has opposite bristle-tipped leaves; Lastarriaea has alternate, oval leaves with papery stipules wrapping the stem.; vs Polycarpon: Loeflingia has needle-like bristle-tipped leaves; Polycarpon has broad spoon-shaped leaves.; vs Spergularia: Loeflingia has flowers in leaf axils with no petals; Spergularia has terminal flower clusters with white/pink petals.; vs Spergula: Loeflingia has single bristle-tipped leaves at nodes; Spergula has whorls of 16-30 smooth needles per node.; vs Plantago: Loeflingia has opposite leaves with flowers in axils; Plantago has basal leaf rosettes with flower spikes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Loeflingia squarrosa native to California?
Yes. Loeflingia squarrosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Loeflingia squarrosa bloom?
Loeflingia squarrosa blooms Spring-summer.
Where in California does Loeflingia squarrosa grow?
Loeflingia squarrosa occurs in Kern, Ventura, Riverside, Los Angeles, Lassen, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Loeflingia squarrosa belong to?
Loeflingia squarrosa is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Loeflingia.
What habitat does Loeflingia squarrosa grow in?
Loeflingia squarrosa grows in Sand, gravel of hills, mesas, dunes, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.