Neomonolepis spathulata
Beaver monolepis
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Neomonolepis spathulata (Beaver monolepis) is a native California herb in the Chenopodiaceae family.
Beaver monolepis is a California native annual found in the Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and eastern Sierra Nevada in moist, somewhat alkaline streambanks and meadows at elevations of 2,000 to 3,450 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces small clusters of inconspicuous flowers in green to whitish tones. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 2 to 20 centimeters tall, it appears delicate and glabrous or sparsely powdery. Its leaves are fleshy and narrowly oblanceolate to spoon-shaped, measuring 3 to 25 millimeters long and appearing entire along the stem. The tiny fruits are less than one millimeter long with a minutely textured wall.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differentiators are leaf shape, size, and elevation restriction
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, +- alkaline streambanks and meadows
Elevation: 2000-3450 m
Outside California: to Oregon, Nevada, Baja California
Bloom period
Neomonolepis spathulata blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Bassia: Monolepis has dense axillary clusters; Bassia develops distinctive hooked spines in fruit.; vs Beta: Monolepis is small with tiny axillary clusters; Beta is robust with large leaves.; vs Dysphania: Monolepis lacks sticky glands; Dysphania is glandular-sticky and aromatic.; vs Chenopodium: Monolepis has 4-15 flowers per cluster; Chenopodium has more diffuse branched flower clusters.; vs Corispermum: Monolepis has axillary flower clusters; Corispermum has terminal spikes with linear leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Neomonolepis spathulata native to California?
Yes. Neomonolepis spathulata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Neomonolepis spathulata bloom?
Neomonolepis spathulata blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Neomonolepis spathulata belong to?
Neomonolepis spathulata is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Neomonolepis.
What habitat does Neomonolepis spathulata grow in?
Neomonolepis spathulata grows in Moist, +- alkaline streambanks and meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.