Rhinotropis intermontana
Intermountain milkwort, Intermountain Milkwort
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygalaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Rhinotropis intermontana (Intermountain milkwort) is a native California subshrub in the Polygalaceae family, recognized by . Key features: tiny flowers, no keel beak vs prominent yellow keel in subspinosa.
Intermountain milkwort is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native shrub found in the southern eastern Sierra Nevada in Mono County, specifically in pinyon and juniper woodland at elevations of 2,600 to 3,080 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces cream to green-winged flowers in small clusters of 1 to 7 blooms. Growing as a stiff-branched, occasionally mat-like shrub less than one meter tall, it features dense white twigs with an open, irregular structure. Its leaves range from 3 to 25 millimeters long, varying from linear to obovate, with incurved or appressed hairs that give the plant a distinctive texture. The fruit is small, measuring 3.5 to 5.8 millimeters and carried on slender pedicels.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key features: tiny flowers, no keel beak vs prominent yellow keel in subspinosa
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 2600-3080 m
Outside California: to Utah, northern Arizona
Bloom period
Rhinotropis intermontana blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
Frequently asked questions
Is Rhinotropis intermontana native to California?
Yes. Rhinotropis intermontana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rhinotropis intermontana bloom?
Rhinotropis intermontana blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Rhinotropis intermontana belong to?
Rhinotropis intermontana is in the Polygalaceae family, genus Rhinotropis.
Is Rhinotropis intermontana rare or endangered?
Rhinotropis intermontana carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Rhinotropis intermontana grow in?
Rhinotropis intermontana grows in Pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Rhinotropis sp. — Milkwort
- Rhinotropis subspinosa — Spiny milkwort
- Rhinotropis acanthoclada — Thorny milkwort
- Rhinotropis californica — California milkwort
- Rhinotropis cornuta — Sierra milkwort
- Rhinotropis cornuta var. cornuta — Sierra milkwort
- Polygala myrtifolia — myrtle-leaf milkwort
- Polygalaceae sp. — Milkwort family
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.