Ozomelis trifida
Three parted miterwort
(c) Walter Siegmund (talk), some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Ozomelis trifida (Three parted miterwort) is a native California perennial in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by rounded vs acute petal lobe tips.
Three parted miterwort is a native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada at elevations of 1,400 to 2,300 meters in wet, shaded slopes. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pale purple flowers with rounded petal lobes. Growing with stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it forms a distinctive clump with broadly lobed leaves. Its leaf blades are 2 to 8 centimeters wide, typically divided into 5 to 7 distinct lobes. The small flowers emerge on very short pedicels, creating delicate clusters in shaded woodland environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by rounded vs acute petal lobe tips
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Wet shaded slopes
Elevation: 1400-2300 m
California counties: Tehama, Humboldt, Del Norte, Siskiyou
Outside California: to British Columbia, Alberta
Bloom period
Ozomelis trifida blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Bolandra: Ozomelis has 3-lobed petals; Bolandra has smooth entire petals; vs Heuchera: Ozomelis flowers are in simple spikes; Heuchera flowers are in branched pyramid-shaped clusters; vs Pectiantia: Ozomelis petals have 3 broad lobes; Pectiantia petals split into 4-10 narrow thread-like segments; vs Mitellastra: Ozomelis petals have 3 broad lobes; Mitellastra petals split into many narrow thread-like segments; vs Hemieva: Ozomelis has 3-lobed petals; Hemieva has smooth entire petals
Frequently asked questions
Is Ozomelis trifida native to California?
Yes. Ozomelis trifida is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ozomelis trifida bloom?
Ozomelis trifida blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Ozomelis trifida grow?
Ozomelis trifida occurs in Tehama, Humboldt, Del Norte, Siskiyou, at elevations of 1400-2300 m.
What plant family does Ozomelis trifida belong to?
Ozomelis trifida is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Ozomelis.
What habitat does Ozomelis trifida grow in?
Ozomelis trifida grows in Uncommon. Wet shaded slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.