Nama pusilla
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Namaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Nama pusilla is a native California perennial in the Namaceae family, recognized by distinctive ovate leaves with winged petioles.
Nama pusilla is a California native perennial found in northern San Bernardino Mountains, western and Inyo Mountains, northern Mojave Desert, and northern Sonoran Desert in sandy to rocky flats at elevations of 200 to 1,740 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers less than 5 millimeters long with a narrow limb. Growing with prostrate stems 2 to 6 centimeters tall, it forms dense, short-spreading clumps with slender hairy stems that fork at the base. Its leaves are small, 2 to 11 millimeters long, lanceolate to ovate, with winged leaf stalks that are 1 to 6 millimeters in length. The tiny seeds are irregular, brown-black, with a distinctive net-like surface featuring intricate depressions.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species, distinctive ovate leaves with winged petioles
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy to rocky flats
Elevation: 200-1740 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Imperial
Outside California: southern Nevada, western Arizona
Bloom period
Nama pusilla 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 pusilla native to California?
Yes. Nama pusilla is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nama pusilla bloom?
Nama pusilla blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Nama pusilla grow?
Nama pusilla occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Imperial, at elevations of 200-1740 m.
What plant family does Nama pusilla belong to?
Nama pusilla is in the Namaceae family, genus Nama.
What habitat does Nama pusilla grow in?
Nama pusilla grows in Sandy to rocky flats.
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.