Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum
(c) crothfels, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.
Polygonum polygaloides is a California native annual herb found in northwestern California, northern Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, and Modoc Plateau in vernal pools and wet meadows at elevations of 500 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces delicate white or red flowers in dense ovoid clusters 7 to 40 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 2 to 15 millimeters tall, the plant forms compact clusters with linear bracts tightly appressed against the stem. Its small flowers feature a white or red perianth with three stamens, creating intricate clusters in wet habitats. The fruit is a small, lance-ovate brown to dark-brown seed with a net-like surface and subtle longitudinal ridges.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, wet meadows
Elevation: 500-1900 m
California counties: Shasta, Lassen, Nevada, Modoc, Siskiyou, Lake, Placer, Alpine, Sierra, Humboldt, Mono, Plumas, Trinity, Tulare, Yuba, Mendocino, Tuolumne, Tehama, Kern, El Dorado
Outside California: to Saskatchewan, Montana, Wyoming
Bloom period
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Euphorbia: Polygonum has swollen stem joints with papery sheaths; Euphorbia has milky sap when broken.; vs Persicaria: Hold node sheaths to light—Polygonum's are translucent and split; Persicaria's are opaque and intact.; vs Eriogonum: Polygonum has papery sheaths at nodes; Eriogonum has flowers in cup-like involucres.; vs Acmispon: Polygonum has swollen stem nodes; Acmispon has compound leaves with 3-5 leaflets.; vs Atriplex: Polygonum has papery stem sheaths; Atriplex has mealy or scurfy coating on leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum native to California?
Yes. Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum bloom?
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum grow?
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum occurs in Shasta, Lassen, Nevada, Modoc, Siskiyou, Lake, Placer, Alpine and other counties, at elevations of 500-1900 m.
What plant family does Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum belong to?
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Polygonum.
What habitat does Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum grow in?
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. confertiflorum grows in Vernal pools, wet meadows.
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.