Nama demissa
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Namaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Nama demissa is a native California perennial in the Namaceae family.
nama demissa is a California native perennial found in desert and western mountain ranges in rocky or sandy habitats at elevations typically below 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces delicate white to lavender flowers in small clusters with a funnel-shaped corolla. Growing with prostrate stems 3 to 20 centimeters long that are densely covered in fine, mealy-glandular hairs, it spreads in low, forked branches across the ground. Its leaves are covered with similar soft, glandular hairs, creating a distinctive fuzzy texture that helps distinguish this small desert plant. When mature, the plant produces tiny spheric to ovoid seeds less than half a millimeter long, ranging from brown to black with cross-ridged surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated, prostrate with funnel-shaped flowers
Habitat and range
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Inyo, Mono, San Diego, Imperial, Kern, Tulare, Lassen, Modoc, San Mateo, Ventura
How to tell it apart
vs Diplacus: Nama has purple to blue tubular flowers with unequal stamens; Diplacus has 2-lipped snapdragon-like flowers often yellow or orange.; vs Phacelia: Nama has stamens at different heights in the flower tube; Phacelia has all stamens attached at the same level.; vs Gilia: Nama is a low mat-forming plant with small purple flowers; Gilia is typically more upright with flowers in round heads.; vs Calibrachoa: Nama has small tubular flowers in clusters; Calibrachoa has large showy petunia-like flowers with wide flaring petals.; vs Erodium: Nama has purple tubular flowers; Erodium has pink 5-petaled flowers and distinctive long beak-like fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nama demissa native to California?
Yes. Nama demissa is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Nama demissa grow?
Nama demissa occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Inyo, Mono, San Diego, Imperial, Kern and other counties.
What plant family does Nama demissa belong to?
Nama demissa is in the Namaceae family, genus Nama.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.