Montia dichotoma
Dwarf miner's lettuce
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Family: Montiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Montia dichotoma (Dwarf miner's lettuce) is a native California herb in the Montiaceae family, recognized by small size, linear alternate leaves, cleistogamous flowers.
Dwarf miner's lettuce is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and North Coast Ranges in moist grassland depressions and open woodland at elevations of 1,000 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to June, this delicate plant produces small white flowers in axillary and terminal clusters with 4 to 16 blossoms. Growing as a tiny, tufted plant just 2 to 9 centimeters tall with erect stems, it forms compact clusters in its native habitat. Its thin, linear leaves measure 5 to 40 millimeters long and grow alternately along the stem. Many of its flowers are cleistogamous, meaning they self-pollinate while remaining closed, ensuring reproduction in challenging alpine environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; distinguished by small size, linear alternate leaves, cleistogamous flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist depressions, grassland, open woodland
Elevation: 1000-1600 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho
Bloom period
Montia dichotoma blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Claytonia: Montia has multiple alternate stem leaves and one-sided flowers; Claytonia has exactly 2 opposite or fused stem leaves.; vs Lewisia: Montia has thin stems with alternate leaves in wet areas; Lewisia forms tight succulent rosettes on rocks.; vs Hesperochiron: Montia has small clustered flowers on stems; Hesperochiron has large solitary flowers from basal rosettes.; vs Galium: Montia has alternate succulent leaves and white flowers; Galium has whorled thin leaves and square stems.; vs Cistanthe: Montia has white/pink flowers with multiple stem leaves; Cistanthe has 5 petals with yellow anthers only on coast.
Frequently asked questions
Is Montia dichotoma native to California?
Yes. Montia dichotoma is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Montia dichotoma bloom?
Montia dichotoma blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Montia dichotoma belong to?
Montia dichotoma is in the Montiaceae family, genus Montia.
What habitat does Montia dichotoma grow in?
Montia dichotoma grows in Moist depressions, grassland, open woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.