Lysimachia minima
Chaffweed, Chaffweed
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Myrsinaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lysimachia minima (Chaffweed) is a native California herb in the Myrsinaceae family, recognized by key features: tiny size (1-10 cm), vernal pool habitat, flowers smaller than sepals.
Chaffweed is a California native annual found in northwestern California, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Central Valley, central western California, southern California coastal areas, northern Channel Islands, and Peninsular Ranges in vernal pools and moist places at elevations below 950 meters. Flowering from March to May, this delicate plant produces white, pink, or salmon-colored flowers in small axillary clusters. Growing with decumbent to nearly erect stems 1 to 10 centimeters tall, it forms slender, often branched stems with minimal foliage. Its small leaves are alternate or occasionally opposite, measuring 2 to 5 millimeters long and shaped between oblanceolate and widely obovate. The tiny fruit develops as a circumscissile capsule that opens around its circumference when mature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; key features: tiny size (1-10 cm), vernal pool habitat, flowers smaller than sepals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, moist places
Elevation: < 950 m
California counties: San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Riverside, Santa Cruz
Outside California: to British Columbia, eastern North America, Europe, South America
Bloom period
Lysimachia minima blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Modiola: Lysimachia has stamens opposite petals; Modiola has stamens fused in a central column.; vs Euphorbia: Lysimachia has true petals; spurge has petal-like bracts around flower clusters and milky sap.; vs Honckenya: Lysimachia has stamens opposite petals; sandwort has stamens alternating with petals.; vs Erythranthe: Lysimachia has radially symmetric flowers; monkeyflower has bilateral tubular flowers.; vs Veronica: Lysimachia has 5 petals and stamens opposite petals; speedwell has 4 petals and 2 stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lysimachia minima native to California?
Yes. Lysimachia minima is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lysimachia minima bloom?
Lysimachia minima blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Lysimachia minima grow?
Lysimachia minima occurs in San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Riverside, Santa Cruz, at elevations of < 950 m.
What plant family does Lysimachia minima belong to?
Lysimachia minima is in the Myrsinaceae family, genus Lysimachia.
What habitat does Lysimachia minima grow in?
Lysimachia minima grows in Vernal pools, moist places.
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.