Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon
Photo: parent species Plectritis congesta · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Valerianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon is a native California herb in the Valerianaceae family, recognized by distinguished primarily by flower size and spur development.
White-flowered plectritis is a California native annual found in the California Floristic Province and Modoc Plateau in coastal bluffs and partly shaded slopes at elevations below 1,900 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces uniformly white to pale pink flowers with delicate radial or slightly two-lipped corollas measuring 1.5 to 3.5 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems, the plant develops compact clusters of small blossoms with minute floral spurs. Its flowers feature tiny undehisced anthers less than 0.7 millimeters in length, creating intricate and subtle botanical details. The plant thrives in open coastal environments, characteristic of California's diverse annual wildflower communities.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinguished primarily by flower size and spur development
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Coastal bluffs, open, partly shaded slopes
Elevation: < 1900 m
California counties: Mendocino, Humboldt, Kern, Tulare, Marin, Lake, El Dorado, Santa Clara, Shasta, Contra Costa, San Diego, Glenn, Trinity, Siskiyou, Modoc, Stanislaus, Lassen, Del Norte, Santa Cruz, San Bernardino, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Plumas, Colusa, Butte, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Calaveras, Napa, Yolo, Tehama, Sonoma
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Valerianella: Plectritis branches simply; Valerianella forks repeatedly in a symmetrical candelabra pattern.; vs Valeriana: Plectritis is annual with simple leaves; Valeriana is perennial with fern-like compound leaves.; vs Whipplea: Plectritis has tiny spurred flowers in dense clusters; Whipplea has 5-petaled white flowers with opposite leaves.; vs Centranthus: Plectritis is a delicate annual; Centranthus is a robust perennial with bright purple-red flowers.; vs Trifolium: Plectritis has tiny tubular flowers; Trifolium has pea-family flowers with three-part clover leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon native to California?
Yes. Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon bloom?
Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon grow?
Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon occurs in Mendocino, Humboldt, Kern, Tulare, Marin, Lake, El Dorado, Santa Clara and other counties, at elevations of < 1900 m.
What plant family does Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon belong to?
Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon is in the Valerianaceae family, genus Plectritis.
What habitat does Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon grow in?
Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon grows in Common. Coastal bluffs, open, partly shaded slopes.
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.