Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae
Fish's milkwort
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polygalaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae (Fish's milkwort) is a native California shrub in the Polygalaceae family, recognized by . Key features: large shrub habit, dark pink wings, narrow leaves.
Fish's milkwort is a native shrub found in southern Coastal Ranges, Western Transverse Ranges, southern Great Basin, and Peninsular Ranges in chaparral and oak woodland at elevations of 90 to 1,270 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces flowers with distinctive dark pink wings and sepal tips that are 7 to 11.2 millimeters long. Growing as a compact shrub that forms thickets less than 2 meters in diameter, it develops decumbent to erect stems 60 to 250 centimeters tall. Its leaves are characteristically elongated, with length more than twice their width, creating a distinctive foliage profile. The plant's wings are delicately ciliate and may be glabrous or slightly puberulent near the tips, adding to its botanical complexity.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species. Key features: large shrub habit, dark pink wings, narrow leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, oak woodland
Elevation: 90-1270 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Mariposa
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
Frequently asked questions
Is Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae native to California?
Yes. Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae bloom?
Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae grow?
Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Mariposa, at elevations of 90-1270 m.
What plant family does Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae belong to?
Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae is in the Polygalaceae family, genus Rhinotropis.
Is Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae rare or endangered?
Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
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.