Oxytropis oreophila var. oreophila

Rock-loving oxytrope, Rock-Loving Oxytrope

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Rock-loving oxytrope is a rare California native (CNPS 2B.3) perennial found in the San Bernardino Mountains in open gravelly or rocky ground at elevations of 2,700 to 3,800 meters. Flowering in July, this plant produces pink-purple or white flowers in clusters of 2 to 12 flowers, each approximately 7 to 10 millimeters long. Growing as a dense, sometimes loosely clustered plant with ascending stems, it forms compact clumps in high-elevation alpine environments. Its leaves are composed of 7 to 17 small elliptic to oblong leaflets, each 2 to 10 millimeters long and typically folded. The distinctive fruit is ascending or erect, measuring 9 to 17 millimeters long and 7 to 9 millimeters wide.

Habitat: Open gravelly or rocky ground, talus, at or above treeline

Bloom period: Jul

Elevation: 2700-3800 m

Bioregions: SnBr

California counties: San Bernardino

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.