Monardella linoides subsp. oblonga

Tehachapi monardella, Tehachapi Monardella

Family: Lamiaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Tehachapi monardella is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in the Tehachapi and northern Transverse Ranges on gravelly, dry slopes and flats in chaparral and conifer woodland to forest at elevations of 1,500 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces pale lavender to violet flowers in compact clusters with rose-purple bracts 10 to 20 millimeters wide. Growing with silvery ash-gray stems 15 to 25 centimeters tall that are finely and densely puberulent, it forms multiple stems in clusters. Its narrow leaves are obovate, 10 to 20 millimeters long and 4 to 7 millimeters wide, giving the plant a delicate, compact appearance. The flower's pale lavender corolla tube extends 2 to 3 millimeters beyond the calyx, creating an elegant and distinctive floral structure.

Habitat: Chaparral, conifer woodland to forest, gravelly, dry slopes, flats

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: 1500-2600 m

Bioregions: Teh, n WTR.

California counties: Kern, Ventura, Los Angeles, Tulare, Inyo

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