Muilla transmontana
Great basin muilla
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Muilla transmontana (Great basin muilla) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by distinctive fused dilated filaments forming nectar cup.
Great basin muilla is a California native perennial found in the Great Basin bioregion in high desert scrub and conifer woodland at elevations of 1,400 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers often tinged with lilac, arranged in clusters with 12 to 30 individual flowers. Growing with erect scapes 15 to 50 centimeters tall, it emerges from a base of multiple narrow leaves. Its leaves are 3 to 5 in number, measuring 5 to 30 centimeters long with distinctive slender structures. The stamens form an intriguing nectar cup with yellow anthers, creating an elegant botanical feature unique to this desert-adapted species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinctive fused dilated filaments forming nectar cup
Habitat and range
Habitat: High desert scrub, conifer woodland
Elevation: 1400-2500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Alpine, Lassen, Kern, Siskiyou, Mono, Plumas, Sierra, Modoc
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Muilla transmontana blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Triteleia: Muilla has white spreading petals; Triteleia has tubular purple, blue, or yellow flowers.; vs Allium: Muilla has no onion smell; Allium smells like onion when crushed.; vs Toxicoscordion: Muilla flowers in loose clusters on short stems; Toxicoscordion flowers in dense spike-like racemes.; vs Nothoscordum: Muilla has truly scentless flowers; Nothoscordum has faint garlic smell and flowers in umbels.; vs Bloomeria: Muilla has white flowers; Bloomeria has golden-yellow flowers with a visible nectar cup.
Frequently asked questions
Is Muilla transmontana native to California?
Yes. Muilla transmontana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Muilla transmontana bloom?
Muilla transmontana blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Muilla transmontana grow?
Muilla transmontana occurs in San Bernardino, Alpine, Lassen, Kern, Siskiyou, Mono, Plumas, Sierra and other counties, at elevations of 1400-2500 m.
What plant family does Muilla transmontana belong to?
Muilla transmontana is in the Themidaceae family, genus Muilla.
What habitat does Muilla transmontana grow in?
Muilla transmontana grows in High desert scrub, conifer woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.