Romanzoffia sitchensis
Sitka mistmaid
(c) Jason Hollinger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Romanzoffia sitchensis (Sitka mistmaid) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by bulb-like base vs tubers is diagnostic, plus elevation difference.
Sitka mistmaid is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in moist mountain rock clefts at elevations of 1,700 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces delicate white flowers with a limb 6 to 12 millimeters in diameter. Growing 5 to 30 centimeters tall with a distinctive bulb-like base formed by widened, overlapping petioles, it spreads with slender stems. Its thin leaves are 1 to 4 centimeters wide, with crenate to shallowly lobed edges and petioles 1 to 14 centimeters long that are generally fringed with fine hairs. The fruit is an obovate capsule 4 to 7 millimeters long, containing 15 or more small, honey-combed seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; bulb-like base vs tubers is diagnostic, plus elevation difference
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon in CA; more common elsewhere. Moist clefts in rocks, mountains
Elevation: [30]1700-2100[2900] m
California counties: Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Humboldt, Del Norte, Marin, San Bernardino
Outside California: to Alaska, western Canada, Montana
Bloom period
Romanzoffia sitchensis blooms Apr-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Kumlienia: Romanzoffia has kidney-shaped leaves and grows in wet rocks; Kumlienia has narrow linear leaves in dry rocky areas.; vs Micranthes: Romanzoffia has kidney-shaped leaves in a basal rosette; Micranthes has more oval or rounded leaves with toothed edges.; vs Chaenostoma: Romanzoffia has rounded kidney-shaped leaves; Chaenostoma has small narrow opposite leaves along upright stems.; vs Saxifraga: Romanzoffia forms loose rosettes in wet habitats; Saxifraga forms tighter cushions often in drier rocky areas.; vs Eucrypta: Romanzoffia has simple kidney-shaped leaves; Eucrypta has finely divided fern-like leaves and very sticky herbage.
Frequently asked questions
Is Romanzoffia sitchensis native to California?
Yes. Romanzoffia sitchensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Romanzoffia sitchensis bloom?
Romanzoffia sitchensis blooms Apr-Sep.
Where in California does Romanzoffia sitchensis grow?
Romanzoffia sitchensis occurs in Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Humboldt, Del Norte, Marin, San Bernardino, at elevations of [30]1700-2100[2900] m.
What plant family does Romanzoffia sitchensis belong to?
Romanzoffia sitchensis is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Romanzoffia.
What habitat does Romanzoffia sitchensis grow in?
Romanzoffia sitchensis grows in Uncommon in CA; more common elsewhere. Moist clefts in rocks, mountains.
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.