Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus
Reticulate popcorn flower
Photo: parent species Plagiobothrys reticulatus · (c) Karen (with occasional help from Mike), some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus (Reticulate popcorn flower) is a native California annual in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by Net-like nutlet surface pattern diagnostic; long pedicels.
Reticulate popcorn flower is a California native annual found in northern coastal, Klamath Range, northern coastal ranges, and central coastal regions in moist meadows, grasslands, and forest areas at elevations of 5 to 900 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces small white flowers clustered in delicate, curved inflorescences. Growing with ascending to occasionally decumbent stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it has a slender and spreading growth habit. Its leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, becoming smaller toward the stem tips, with a soft, slightly hairy texture. The fruit consists of tiny, intricate nutlets with a distinctive net-like pattern of cross-ribs, each measuring approximately 1 to 1.6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Net-like nutlet surface pattern diagnostic; long pedicels
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist places, meadows in forest, grassland
Elevation: 5-900 m
California counties: Sonoma, Humboldt, Mendocino, San Mateo
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Cryptantha: Seeds have a raised ridge down the inner face, not a groove like Cryptantha.; vs Pectocarya: Seeds lack the comb-like marginal barbs of Pectocarya; attachment scar is raised.; vs Myosotis: Flowers are smaller and more tubular; Myosotis has wider, flatter blue flowers with yellow centers.; vs Nemophila: Nemophila has much larger, showier blue-white flowers and broader leaves.; vs Leptosiphon: Leptosiphon has needle-like divided leaves; Plagiobothrys has simple narrow leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus bloom?
Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus grow?
Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus occurs in Sonoma, Humboldt, Mendocino, San Mateo, at elevations of 5-900 m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus belong to?
Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus grow in?
Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus grows in Moist places, meadows in forest, grassland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.