Nama stenocarpa
Mud nama, Mud Nama
(c) Sue Carnahan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Namaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Nama stenocarpa (Mud nama) is a native California perennial in the Namaceae family, recognized by distinctive wet habitat and honeycombed seeds.
Mud nama is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the San Joaquin Valley, southern California Coast, southern Channel Islands, western Peninsular Ranges, and southeastern Colorado Desert in intermittently wet areas at elevations below 810 meters. Flowering from March to October, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers 4 to 6 millimeters long with a delicate funnel-shaped corolla. Growing with prostrate to ascending stems 8 to 40 centimeters tall, it spreads with many branches covered in soft, silky, and short glandular hairs. Its leaves are oblanceolate or spoon-shaped, 5 to 30 millimeters long, with wavy margins that curl slightly under, and base clasping the stem. The fruit is 3 to 9 millimeters long, containing tiny tan to brown seeds with an irregular honeycomb-like surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species, distinctive wet habitat and honeycombed seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Intermittently wet areas
Elevation: < 810 m
Outside California: to Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Nama stenocarpa blooms Mar-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
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 stenocarpa native to California?
Yes. Nama stenocarpa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nama stenocarpa bloom?
Nama stenocarpa blooms Mar-Oct.
What plant family does Nama stenocarpa belong to?
Nama stenocarpa is in the Namaceae family, genus Nama.
Is Nama stenocarpa rare or endangered?
Nama stenocarpa carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S1S2.
What habitat does Nama stenocarpa grow in?
Nama stenocarpa grows in Intermittently wet areas.
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.