Nemacladus sigmoideus
Inyo threadplant
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Nemacladus sigmoideus (Inyo threadplant) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by 21 sympatric - unique 1-lipped flowers with S-curved pedicels.
Inyo threadplant is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, Transverse Ranges, eastern Peninsular Ranges, Sierra Nevada East, Mojave Desert, and northwestern Desert South Coast bioregions in sandy or gravelly soils at elevations of 200 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from April to June, this delicate plant produces white flowers with occasional yellow or lavender highlights, emerging from a strongly zigzag-shaped flowering axis. Growing to 6 to 11 centimeters tall with spreading stems that are purple-brown at the base, it has distinctive diamond-shaped leaves 1.5 to 11 millimeters long. Its leaves are short-hairy, sessile, and can be entire or irregularly toothed, with an intricate growth pattern emerging from the plant's base or slightly above. The fruit is nearly spherical, 2 to 2.8 millimeters long, with a widely acute tip and an acute or oblique base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 21 sympatric - unique 1-lipped flowers with S-curved pedicels
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly soils
Elevation: 200-2300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Los Angeles, Imperial, Riverside, Mono, Lassen, Tulare, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Ventura
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Nemacladus sigmoideus blooms Apr-Jun.
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 sigmoideus native to California?
Yes. Nemacladus sigmoideus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nemacladus sigmoideus bloom?
Nemacladus sigmoideus blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Nemacladus sigmoideus grow?
Nemacladus sigmoideus occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Los Angeles, Imperial, Riverside, Mono, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 200-2300 m.
What plant family does Nemacladus sigmoideus belong to?
Nemacladus sigmoideus is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Nemacladus.
What habitat does Nemacladus sigmoideus grow in?
Nemacladus sigmoideus grows in Sandy or gravelly soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Nemacladus sp. — Threadplant
- Nemacladus tenuis — Small-flowered desert threadsplant
- Nemacladus tenuis var. aliformis — Winged desert threadplant
- Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis — Desert nemacladus
- Nemacladus twisselmannii — Twisselmann's nemacladus
- Nemacladus twisselmannii var. botanywomaniae — Kate's nemacladus
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.