Saltugilia latimeri
Latimer's woodland-gilia
(c) Neal Kelso, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Saltugilia latimeri (Latimer's woodland-gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by glandular calyx lobes are diagnostic, plus acute petal tips.
Latimer's woodland-gilia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and desert regions in dry desert slopes and rocky soils at elevations of 400 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces delicate purple and pink flowers with acute lobe tips, the corolla tube extending beyond the calyx. Growing with slender stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall, branching from the base with several secondary stems. Its leaves are delicate, with multiple branching patterns supporting small flower clusters. The tiny fruit measures 3.5 to 5 millimeters long, containing 6 to 9 seeds per chamber.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; glandular calyx lobes are diagnostic, plus acute petal tips
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry desert slopes, coarse sand to rocky soils
Elevation: 400-1900 m
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo
Bloom period
Saltugilia latimeri blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Gilia: Saltugilia lacks white cobwebby hairs; Gilia has distinctive white cobwebby or bent hairs.; vs Navarretia: Wet the seeds - Saltugilia seeds stay dry; Navarretia seeds become gelatinous and sticky.; vs Erodium: Saltugilia has radially symmetric flowers; Erodium has bilateral flowers and long-beaked fruits.; vs Leptosiphon: Saltugilia has bell/funnel flowers in clusters; Leptosiphon has tubular flowers with spreading lobes.; vs Stephanomeria: Saltugilia has simple flowers; Stephanomeria has dandelion-like flower heads with only ray flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Saltugilia latimeri native to California?
Yes. Saltugilia latimeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Saltugilia latimeri bloom?
Saltugilia latimeri blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Saltugilia latimeri grow?
Saltugilia latimeri occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, at elevations of 400-1900 m.
What plant family does Saltugilia latimeri belong to?
Saltugilia latimeri is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Saltugilia.
Is Saltugilia latimeri rare or endangered?
Saltugilia latimeri carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
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.