Navarretia nigelliformis subsp. radians

Shining navarretia, Shining Navarretia

Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Shining navarretia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in south-central coastal ranges in vernal pools and clay depressions at elevations of 150 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces delicate white flowers with short 1 to 2 millimeter lobes nestled in densely white-hairy centers. Growing with decumbent branches that spread wider than tall, it forms a light gray-green herbage with distinctive spreading growth habit. Its narrow leaves are arranged with intricate white-hairy bracts, with glabrous bract tips creating a subtle textural contrast. The plant's stamens extend beyond the flower's corolla, giving it a distinctive and delicate appearance in its vernal pool habitat.

Habitat: Vernal pools, clay depressions

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 150-1000 m

Bioregions: SCoR.

California counties: San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Merced, Monterey, Butte, Madera, San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Colusa, Fresno

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.