Paronychia franciscana
California whitlow wort
(c) Rajan Rao, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Paronychia franciscana (California whitlow wort) is a non-native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by . Perennial mat-former with prostrate stems, distinct from the annual species.
California whitlow wort is a naturalized perennial herb found in southern Northern Coast Ranges, northern Central Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area in grassy hills at elevations below 250 meters. Flowering in spring, this plant produces small greenish-white flowers clustered in axillary groups 1.9 to 2.4 millimeters long. Growing as a mat-forming plant with prostrate stems 5 to 50 centimeters long, it spreads close to the ground with stems largely hidden by leaves. Its leaves are 5 to 10 millimeters long, elliptic to oblanceolate, moderately hairy, and green with bristle-like tips. The plant has a robust taproot larger than 3 millimeters in diameter, allowing it to establish effectively in its grassy habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated, no sympatric species. Perennial mat-former with prostrate stems, distinct from the annual species.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy hills
Elevation: < 250 m
California counties: San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma
Outside California: native to Chile
Bloom period
Paronychia franciscana blooms Spring.
How to tell it apart
vs Cardionema: Paronychia sepals are smooth, not densely woolly-fuzzy like Cardionema.; vs Herniaria: Paronychia sepals have white papery edges and bristle tips; Herniaria has blunt green sepals.; vs Achyronychia: Paronychia has narrow sepals with bristles; Achyronychia has broad rounded sepals.; vs Scopulophila: Paronychia lacks the densely woolly cushion base of Scopulophila.; vs Scleranthus: Paronychia has tiny stipules at leaf bases; Scleranthus has none.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paronychia franciscana native to California?
No. Paronychia franciscana is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Paronychia franciscana bloom?
Paronychia franciscana blooms Spring.
Where in California does Paronychia franciscana grow?
Paronychia franciscana occurs in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, at elevations of < 250 m.
What plant family does Paronychia franciscana belong to?
Paronychia franciscana is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Paronychia.
What habitat does Paronychia franciscana grow in?
Paronychia franciscana grows in Grassy hills.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.