Montia howellii

Howell's montia, Howell's Montia

Family: Montiaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Howell's montia is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native annual found in northwestern California in vernally wet sites, often on compacted soil, at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small white flowers in tiny clusters within the axils of stem leaves. Growing as a diminutive, matted plant only 1 to 9 centimeters tall that roots at its lower nodes, it spreads close to the ground in delicate formations. Its alternate leaves range from 5 to 25 millimeters long, appearing linear or slightly oblanceolate with a slender, understated profile. The tiny fruits measure less than 1.2 millimeters, containing smooth seeds with minimal appendage development.

Habitat: Vernally wet sites, often compacted soil

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: < 400 m

Bioregions: NW

California counties: Humboldt, Trinity

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