Ravenella sharsmithiae
Sharsmith's harebell
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Ravenella sharsmithiae (Sharsmith's harebell) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by deep purple corolla and distinctive toothed bracts.
Sharsmith's harebell is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the southern San Francisco Bay region's Mount Hamilton Range on talus slopes at elevations of 400 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces deep purple bell-shaped flowers 7 to 16 millimeters long with recurved lobes. Growing with erect, stiffly hairy stems 5 to 25 centimeters tall, it has a distinctive upright form. Its leaves are sessile, broadly lanceolate, 5 to 11 millimeters long, fleshy, and serrate along the edges. The fruit is an oblong, strongly ribbed structure with papillae, containing small smooth seeds about 0.6 to 0.7 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinguished by deep purple corolla and distinctive toothed bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Talus slopes
Elevation: 400-1000 m
California counties: Stanislaus, Alameda, Santa Clara
Bloom period
Ravenella sharsmithiae blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
Frequently asked questions
Is Ravenella sharsmithiae native to California?
Yes. Ravenella sharsmithiae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ravenella sharsmithiae bloom?
Ravenella sharsmithiae blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Ravenella sharsmithiae grow?
Ravenella sharsmithiae occurs in Stanislaus, Alameda, Santa Clara, at elevations of 400-1000 m.
What plant family does Ravenella sharsmithiae belong to?
Ravenella sharsmithiae is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Ravenella.
Is Ravenella sharsmithiae rare or endangered?
Ravenella sharsmithiae carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.