Polycarpon tetraphyllum

Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: annual · Native

Four-leaved nailwort is a California native annual found in coastal and central California grasslands and disturbed areas at low elevations. Flowering from March to May, this delicate plant produces tiny white flowers less than one millimeter long in small clusters. Growing with prostrate to erect stems 1 to 6 centimeters tall, it forms dense, matted tufts across the ground. Its opposite leaves appear whorled, with succulent oblanceolate or broadly ovate blades 3 to 12 millimeters long and white scarious stipules. The plant produces small brown seeds that are obliquely triangular and finely granular in texture.

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