Moneses uniflora

Woodnymph, Woodnymph

Family: Ericaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Woodnymph is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in northern coastal California, western Klamath Ranges, northern North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, and central Sierra Nevada (Fresno County) in moist, mossy conifer forests at elevations of 100 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this delicate plant produces waxy-white to pale pink flowers that are nodding and solitary, with spreading petals less than one centimeter long. Growing as a tiny evergreen herb less than 10 centimeters tall, it spreads through rhizome-like roots and forms small, compact clusters. Its leaves are primarily basal, ovate to obovate, with delicate finely crenate edges, measuring up to 3.5 centimeters long and supported by slender petioles. The plant produces an erect capsule fruit that opens from tip to base, with distinctive crown-like stigma lobes.

Habitat: Moist, mossy conifer forests

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 100-1000 m

Bioregions: n NCo, w KR, n NCoRO, CaRH, c SNH (Fresno Co.)

California counties: Humboldt, Del Norte

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