Pholisma sonorae

Sand food

Family: Lennoaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Sand food is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in southeastern Imperial County in desert dune and sandy habitats at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pink to purple flowers with white margins, creating a delicate and distinctive bloom. Growing 5 to 15 decimeters tall with stems 0.5 to 2 centimeters in diameter, it forms a robust and substantial presence in its sparse desert environment. Its flowers feature linear calyx lobes and contain 12 to 32 ovary chambers, contributing to its unique botanical structure. This uncommon plant is an intriguing example of desert adaptation, thriving in the challenging sandy landscapes of southern California.

Habitat: Dunes, sandy areas

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: DSon (se Imperial Co.)

California counties: Imperial

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