Parnassia fimbriata
Fringed grass of parnassus
(c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Parnassiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Parnassia fimbriata (Fringed grass of parnassus) is a native California herb in the Parnassiaceae family, recognized by staminode shape and number clearly diagnostic.
Fringed grass of parnassus is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, and White and Inyo Mountains in wet banks, meadows, and rocky seeps at elevations of 1,500 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces white flowers with distinctive deeply fringed petals 7 to 14 millimeters long. Growing with delicate stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it has a slender and graceful appearance. Its basal leaves are round to kidney-shaped, 1 to 5 centimeters wide, with a heart-shaped base, creating a soft green foundation for the plant's elegant flowers. The flower features intricate staminodes with unequal lobes and delicate fringed petals, making it a distinctive and charming species of mountain meadows.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; staminode shape and number clearly diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Wet banks, meadows, rocky seeps
Elevation: 1500-2700 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Sierra, Plumas, Modoc, Placer, Nevada, Trinity
Outside California: to Alaska, Alberta, Colorado
Bloom period
Parnassia fimbriata blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Limnanthes: Parnassia has fringed staminodes between stamens; meadowfoam has simple stamens without staminodes.; vs Limonium: Parnassia has solitary flowers on single stems; sea lavender has flowers in branching clusters.; vs Linum: Parnassia has fringed staminodes; flax has simple stamens and capsules splitting into 10 segments.; vs Ayenia: Parnassia has broad petals and fringed staminodes; Ayenia has thread-like petals and fused stamen tube.; vs Drosera: Parnassia has smooth leaves; sundew has leaves covered with sticky insect-trapping hairs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Parnassia fimbriata native to California?
Yes. Parnassia fimbriata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Parnassia fimbriata bloom?
Parnassia fimbriata blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Parnassia fimbriata grow?
Parnassia fimbriata occurs in Siskiyou, Sierra, Plumas, Modoc, Placer, Nevada, Trinity, at elevations of 1500-2700 m.
What plant family does Parnassia fimbriata belong to?
Parnassia fimbriata is in the Parnassiaceae family, genus Parnassia.
What habitat does Parnassia fimbriata grow in?
Parnassia fimbriata grows in Uncommon. Wet banks, meadows, rocky seeps.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Parnassia palustris — Marsh grass of parnassus
- Parnassia parviflora — Small-flowered grass-of-parnassus
- Parnassia sp. — Grass-of-parnassus
- Parnassia cirrata — San Bernardino Grass-Of-Parnassus
- Parnassia cirrata var. cirrata — San bernardino grass-of-parnassus
- Parnassia cirrata var. intermedia — Cascade grass-of-parnassus
- Parnassiaceae sp. — Grass-of-parnassus family
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.