Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii
Photo: parent species Polygonum polygaloides · (c) crothfels, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.
Kellogg's polygala is a California native annual found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in mountain meadows, seeps, and rainpools at elevations of 1,500 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from June to September, this delicate plant produces pink or white flowers in small ovoid clusters 3 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 1 to 15 centimeters tall, it forms compact low-growing clusters across alpine and subalpine landscapes. Its leaves are accompanied by linear to lance-linear bracts 7 to 25 millimeters long with flat or slightly rolled margins. The tiny fruits are light-yellow to green-brown, ovate, and shiny, measuring 1.3 to 1.7 millimeters long.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Mountain meadows, seeps, rainpools
Elevation: 1500-3300 m
California counties: Kern, Mono, Nevada, Tulare, San Bernardino, Inyo, Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Modoc, Fresno, Butte, Calaveras, Glenn, Lake, Lassen, Mariposa, Merced, Shasta, Sierra, Trinity, Humboldt, Madera, Tuolumne, Mendocino, Tehama, Placer, Plumas, Siskiyou, Riverside, Colusa, Del Norte, Ventura
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Colorado, Arizona
Bloom period
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii blooms Jun-Sep.
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. kelloggii native to California?
Yes. Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii bloom?
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii grow?
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii occurs in Kern, Mono, Nevada, Tulare, San Bernardino, Inyo, Alpine, Amador and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3300 m.
What plant family does Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii belong to?
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Polygonum.
What habitat does Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii grow in?
Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii grows in Mountain meadows, seeps, rainpools.
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.