Petrophytum caespitosum subsp. acuminatum

marble rockmat

Family: Rosaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Marble rockmat is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains on limestone cliffs and in conifer forests at elevations of 900 to 2,350 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers in dense, compact clusters. Growing with low-spreading, compact stems that form tight mats or cushions, it creates intricate ground-hugging formations. Its small leaves are densely clustered, overlapping, and arranged in tight rosettes, giving the plant a distinctive cushion-like appearance. The fruit is a small capsule characteristic of its rocky, high-elevation habitat.

Habitat: Limestone cliffs, conifer forest

Bloom period: Jun-Sep

Elevation: 900-2350 m

Bioregions: s SNH.

California counties: Fresno, 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.