Menodora sp.
(c) Dick Culbert, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Oleaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Menodora sp. is a native California perennial in the Oleaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Cercis: Menodora has small narrow leaves; Cercis has large heart-shaped leaves several inches wide.; vs Crocanthemum: Menodora has yellow flowers and two-lobed capsules; Crocanthemum has crinkled petals and round capsules.; vs Pleiacanthus: Menodora is a woody shrub with yellow flowers; Pleiacanthus is herbaceous with white/pinkish flowers.; vs Eulobus: Menodora has two-lobed capsules; Eulobus has four-angled cylindrical capsules.; vs Forestiera: Menodora has alternate leaves; Forestiera has opposite leaves in pairs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Menodora sp. native to California?
Yes. Menodora sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Menodora sp. belong to?
Menodora sp. is in the Oleaceae family, genus Menodora.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Menodora spinescens — Spiny desert olive
- Menodora spinescens var. mohavensis — Mojave menodora
- Menodora spinescens var. spinescens — Spiny desert olive
- Menodora scabra — Rough menodora
- Menodora scabra var. glabrescens — Broom tvinberry
- Menodora scabra var. scabra — Rough desert olive
- Olea europaea — Olive
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.