Nama demissa var. covillei
Coville's purple mat
Photo: parent species Nama demissa · (c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Namaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Nama demissa var. covillei (Coville's purple mat) is a native California perennial in the Namaceae family, recognized by gray-green color and flower size.
Coville's purple mat is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the northern Death Valley region, particularly the rare Ivanpah Valley, on dry, sandy flats and slopes at elevations of 30 to 900 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces blue-violet to pink flowers approximately 8 to 12 millimeters long with delicate limbs 8 to 9 millimeters in diameter. Growing with soft, shaggy gray-green stems, it forms low-spreading mats with distinctive winged leaf petioles. Its leaves are elliptic to diamond-shaped, measuring 5 to 13 millimeters long, with soft hairs giving the plant a distinctive textured appearance. The small black seeds are nestled in fruits 2 to 5 millimeters long, contributing to its unique desert adaptation.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; distinguished by gray-green color and flower size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, sandy flats, slopes
Elevation: 30-900 m
Bloom period
Nama demissa var. covillei blooms Feb-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 var. covillei native to California?
Yes. Nama demissa var. covillei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nama demissa var. covillei bloom?
Nama demissa var. covillei blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Nama demissa var. covillei belong to?
Nama demissa var. covillei is in the Namaceae family, genus Nama.
Is Nama demissa var. covillei rare or endangered?
Nama demissa var. covillei carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Nama demissa var. covillei grow in?
Nama demissa var. covillei grows in Dry, sandy flats, slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.