Navarretia subuligera
Awl-leaved navarretia, Awl-Leaved Navarretia
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Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Navarretia subuligera (Awl-leaved navarretia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by small size, awl-shaped spiny leaf tips, and purple stems.
Awl-leaved navarretia is a California native annual found in northern California regions including the North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, and Sacramento Valley in open, rocky, wet places at elevations of 150 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from April to August, this delicate plant produces white flowers with three-veined corolla lobes in distinctive clusters with awl-shaped bracted tips. Growing with erect stems 4 to 16 centimeters tall, the plant has generally purple stems with recurved hairs and ascending branches. Its leaves are pinnate-lobed near the base, with linear axis and lobes that are subglabrous, creating a fine, intricate structure. The translucent fruits uniquely dehisce when wetted, revealing an adaptive mechanism for seed dispersal in its moist habitat environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species; distinguished by small size, awl-shaped spiny leaf tips, and purple stems
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky, wet places
Elevation: 150-1100 m
California counties: Lake, Shasta, Tehama, Napa, Modoc, Butte, Amador, Del Norte
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Navarretia subuligera blooms Apr-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Leptosiphon: Navarretia has spiny, thistle-like flower heads; Leptosiphon has open flower clusters without spines.; vs Gilia: Navarretia has very short glandular hairs; Gilia has white cobwebby or bent hairs.; vs Eriastrum: Navarretia flower heads are spiny but not woolly; Eriastrum heads are densely woolly-white.; vs Saltugilia: Wet the seeds - Navarretia seeds become gelatinous; Saltugilia seeds stay dry.; vs Eryngium: Navarretia has tubular flowers in heads; Eryngium has tiny separate flowers and divided leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Navarretia subuligera native to California?
Yes. Navarretia subuligera is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia subuligera bloom?
Navarretia subuligera blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Navarretia subuligera grow?
Navarretia subuligera occurs in Lake, Shasta, Tehama, Napa, Modoc, Butte, Amador, Del Norte, at elevations of 150-1100 m.
What plant family does Navarretia subuligera belong to?
Navarretia subuligera is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
Is Navarretia subuligera rare or endangered?
Navarretia subuligera carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.