Nama hispida var. spathulata
Family: Namaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Nama hispida var. spathulata is a native California perennial in the Namaceae family, recognized by largest flowers and tallest stature.
nama hispida is a California native perennial found in northern Santa Margarita Mountains, eastern Mojave Desert, and Sonoran Desert in dry sandy or gravelly flats and slopes at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces blue to purple-lavender flowers in small clusters with salverform corollas 10 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with ascending to erect stems 7 to 30 centimeters tall that are densely covered in fine, bristly glandular hairs, it has a distinctive mealy appearance. Its leaves are sessile, 1 to 5 centimeters long, linear to spoon-shaped, and slightly rolled under. The fruit is small, measuring 3 to 6 millimeters in length with yellow to orange seeds featuring a distinctive net-like texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species, largest flowers and tallest stature
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, sandy or gravelly flats, slopes
Elevation: < 700(900) m
Outside California: to western Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Nama hispida var. spathulata blooms Mar-May.
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 hispida var. spathulata native to California?
Yes. Nama hispida var. spathulata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nama hispida var. spathulata bloom?
Nama hispida var. spathulata blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Nama hispida var. spathulata belong to?
Nama hispida var. spathulata is in the Namaceae family, genus Nama.
What habitat does Nama hispida var. spathulata grow in?
Nama hispida var. spathulata grows in Dry, sandy or gravelly flats, slopes.
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.