Nemacladus parikhiae
Parikh's nemacladus
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Nemacladus parikhiae (Parikh's nemacladus) is a native California annual in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Parikh's nemacladus is a California native annual found in chaparral and creosote bush scrub at elevations of 800 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to July, this delicate plant produces white to pale blue flowers with faint wine-red or greenish veins, featuring distinctive dark purple to reddish purple filament tips. Growing 5 to 12 centimeters tall with erect, branching stems, it emerges from the base and branches again just above its base. Its small leaves are widely triangular to elliptic, 2 to 4.5 millimeters long, and delicately toothed. The fruit is a narrow ellipsoid seed capsule 1.6 to 3 millimeters long, with an oblique base and slender tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coarse gravelly soils, chaparral, creosote bush scrub
Elevation: 800-1800 m
Bloom period
Nemacladus parikhiae blooms (Mar)Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Hesperolinon: Hesperolinon has 5 separate styles and round petals; Nemacladus has fused stamens and irregular flowers.; vs Legenere: Legenere has white flowers in wet areas; Nemacladus has colored flowers in dry desert habitats.; vs Porterella: Porterella grows in wet areas; Nemacladus is a desert specialist of dry sandy soils.; vs Lobelia: Lobelia grows in wet areas with ridged lower lips; Nemacladus thrives in dry deserts.; vs Downingia: Downingia grows in vernal pools; Nemacladus grows in dry desert sands and gravels.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nemacladus parikhiae native to California?
Yes. Nemacladus parikhiae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nemacladus parikhiae bloom?
Nemacladus parikhiae blooms (Mar)Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Nemacladus parikhiae belong to?
Nemacladus parikhiae is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Nemacladus.
What habitat does Nemacladus parikhiae grow in?
Nemacladus parikhiae grows in Coarse gravelly soils, chaparral, creosote bush scrub.
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.