Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma
Forked purple mat, Forked Purple Mat
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Family: Namaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma (Forked purple mat) is a native California perennial in the Namaceae family, recognized by distinctive erect habit vs prostrate congeners.
Forked purple mat is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the eastern Desert Mountains, specifically the New York Mountains, on granite or limestone slopes and ridges at elevations of 1,900 to 2,200 meters. Flowering in October, this plant produces white to light blue flowers in small, delicate clusters with cylindric to bell-shaped corollas. Growing with short erect stems 5 to 20 centimeters tall, the plant is generally simple or forked and covered in short glandular and nonglandular hairs. Its leaves are sessile, ranging from 6 to 20 millimeters long, with a distinctive linear to spoon-shaped form. The tiny fruits measure 2 to 6 millimeters long, containing small brown seeds with cross-ridged surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species, distinctive erect habit vs prostrate congeners
Habitat and range
Habitat: Granite or limestone slopes, ridges
Elevation: 1900-2200 m
Outside California: to Colorado, Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma blooms Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.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 dichotoma var. dichotoma native to California?
Yes. Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma bloom?
Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma blooms Oct.
What plant family does Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma belong to?
Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma is in the Namaceae family, genus Nama.
Is Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma rare or endangered?
Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S1.
What habitat does Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma grow in?
Nama dichotoma var. dichotoma grows in Granite or limestone slopes, ridges.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.