Micromonolepis pusilla

Dwarf monolepis

Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Dwarf monolepis is a California native annual found in the eastern slope of the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Modoc Plateau, and northern Sierra Nevada East in alkali flats at elevations of 1,000 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from May to August, this delicate plant produces small flowers in tiny clusters, with a subtle reddish-powdery appearance. Growing to 14 centimeters tall with intricately branched stems that become thread-like toward the tips, it forms rounded, compact clusters. Its small leaves are 3 to 6 millimeters long, elliptic to oblong in shape, with obtuse or rounded tips. The tiny fruits are less than one millimeter long, with a minutely textured wall that partially separates from the dark brown seed.

Habitat: Alkali flats

Bloom period: May-Aug

Elevation: 1000-2100 m

Bioregions: n SNH (e slope), MP, n SNE

California counties: Mono, Modoc, Lassen

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.