Plectritis sp.
(c) Steve Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Taylor · licence
Family: Valerianaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Plectritis sp. is a native California annual in the Valerianaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
Yes. Plectritis sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Plectritis sp. belong to?
Plectritis sp. is in the Valerianaceae family, genus Plectritis.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plectritis ciliosa — Long spurred plectritis
- Plectritis congesta — Sea blush
- Plectritis congesta subsp. brachystemon
- Plectritis congesta subsp. congesta — Sea blush
- Plectritis macrocera — Long horn plectritis
- Valeriana californica — California valerian
- Valeriana occidentalis — Western valerian
- Valeriana pubicarpa — Mountain valerian
- Valeriana sitchensis — Sitka valerian
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.