Stillingia linearifolia
Linear leaved stillingia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Euphorbiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Stillingia linearifolia (Linear leaved stillingia) is a native California subshrub in the Euphorbiaceae family, recognized by leaf width and margin clearly diagnostic.
Linear leaved stillingia is a California native perennial found in the southwestern deserts, San Joaquin Valley, and Monocline Ridge in Fresno County on dry slopes and washes at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small white flowers in terminal inflorescences 2 to 7 centimeters long. Growing with erect stems up to 70 centimeters tall, it has a delicate, sparse growth habit. Its leaves are distinctively narrow, linear in shape, measuring 1 to 4 centimeters long and less than 2 millimeters wide, appearing entire and minimally textured. The fruit is approximately 3.5 millimeters long with smooth seeds about 2 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; leaf width and margin clearly diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, washes
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Orange, Kern
Outside California: Arizona, Mexico
Bloom period
Stillingia linearifolia blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Dalea: Stillingia has milky sap; dalea has clear sap and pea-like flowers.; vs Acmispon: Stillingia has simple leaves; lotus has compound leaves with 3-9 leaflets.; vs Eriogonum: Stillingia has milky sap; buckwheat has clear watery sap.; vs Oligomeris: Stillingia has smooth leaves; oligomeris has fleshy succulent leaves.; vs Gutierrezia: Stillingia has milky sap; snakeweed has resinous sticky sap and yellow flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stillingia linearifolia native to California?
Yes. Stillingia linearifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stillingia linearifolia bloom?
Stillingia linearifolia blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Stillingia linearifolia grow?
Stillingia linearifolia occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Orange and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Stillingia linearifolia belong to?
Stillingia linearifolia is in the Euphorbiaceae family, genus Stillingia.
What habitat does Stillingia linearifolia grow in?
Stillingia linearifolia grows in dry slopes, washes.
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.