Monardella breweri subsp. microcephala

small-headed monardella

Family: Lamiaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Small-headed monardella is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native annual found in southern Peninsular Ranges in open, rocky sites and grassy openings in chaparral and woodland at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces purple flowers in dense clusters 5 to 20 millimeters wide. Growing with slender purple stems 9 to 30 centimeters tall that are glandular-hairy near the top, it has a delicate, upright form. Its leaves are approximately lanceolate, measuring 15 to 40 millimeters long with a narrow, pointed shape. The flower bracts are green or purple-tipped, measuring 5 to 7 millimeters long with distinctive cross-veining.

Habitat: Open, rocky, occasionally disturbed sites; grassy openings in chaparral, woodland

Bloom period: May-Aug

Elevation: < 2000 m

Bioregions: s PR

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