Stillingia paucidentata
Mojave stillingia
(c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Euphorbiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Stillingia paucidentata (Mojave stillingia) is a native California herb in the Euphorbiaceae family, recognized by leaf toothing pattern and width diagnostic.
Mojave stillingia is a California native perennial found in the Mojave and northern Desert Sonoran bioregions on slopes and flats in creosote-bush scrub at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces small white to greenish flowers in terminal clusters. Growing with slender stems up to 50 centimeters tall, it has a delicate, sparse branching habit. Its linear leaves are distinctive, measuring 3 to 8 centimeters long and just 1.5 to 5 millimeters wide, with a few spiny teeth along the lower half of the leaf blade. The small fruit is approximately 4 to 4.5 millimeters long, containing smooth seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; leaf toothing pattern and width diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, flats, creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Los Angeles, Riverside
Outside California: Arizona
Bloom period
Stillingia paucidentata blooms Apr-Jun.
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 paucidentata native to California?
Yes. Stillingia paucidentata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stillingia paucidentata bloom?
Stillingia paucidentata blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Stillingia paucidentata grow?
Stillingia paucidentata occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Los Angeles, Riverside, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Stillingia paucidentata belong to?
Stillingia paucidentata is in the Euphorbiaceae family, genus Stillingia.
What habitat does Stillingia paucidentata grow in?
Stillingia paucidentata grows in Slopes, flats, creosote-bush scrub.
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.