Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis
Desert nemacladus
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis (Desert nemacladus) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by 8 sympatric - uniform triangular lobes vs. dimorphic in var. aliformis.
Desert nemacladus is a California native annual found in Desert bioregions in dry, sandy or gravelly soils at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to May, this delicate plant produces white flowers with pale or deep pink tips, each tiny bloom approximately 2 millimeters long. Growing with extremely slender stems less than 0.1 millimeters in diameter, the plant forms a sparse, wispy structure. Its flowers feature distinct corolla lobes divided nearly to the base, with adaxial and abaxial lobes that are roughly triangular and nearly equal in shape. The small fruit measures 1 to 2 millimeters in length, complementing the plant's minimalist botanical architecture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric - uniform triangular lobes vs. dimorphic in var. aliformis
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, sandy or gravelly soils
Elevation: < 1600 m
California counties: Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, San Bernardino, Inyo
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis blooms Apr-May.
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 tenuis var. tenuis native to California?
Yes. Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis bloom?
Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis grow?
Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis occurs in Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, San Bernardino, Inyo, at elevations of < 1600 m.
What plant family does Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis belong to?
Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Nemacladus.
What habitat does Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis grow in?
Nemacladus tenuis var. tenuis grows in Dry, sandy or gravelly soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Nemacladus twisselmannii — Twisselmann's nemacladus
- Nemacladus twisselmannii var. botanywomaniae — Kate's nemacladus
- Nemacladus twisselmannii var. twisselmannii — Twisselmann's nemacladus
- Nemacladus bellus — Beautiful threadplant
- Nemacladus breviflorus — Short-flowered threadplant
- Nemacladus calcaratus — Chimney creek nemacladus
- Porterella carnosula — Fleshy porterella
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.