Tetracoccus hallii
Hall's tetracoccus
(c) W Rao, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Picrodendraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Tetracoccus hallii (Hall's tetracoccus) is a native California shrub in the Picrodendraceae family, recognized by . Desert habitat with small oblanceolate to obovate leaves clustered on short lateral twigs.
Hall's tetracoccus is a California native shrub found in southeastern Mojave Desert and southeastern Colorado Desert regions on rocky slopes and washes at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small flowers clustered on short lateral twigs. Growing with slender branches that are sparsely short-strigose when young and becoming glabrous with age, it reaches a moderate size with distinctive branching pattern. Its leaves are generally alternate, clustered on short lateral twigs, with blades 2 to 12 millimeters long, oblanceolate to obovate with obtuse to rounded tips. The fruit is grayish and fine-tomentose, approximately 8 to 12 millimeters long and 6 to 10 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with 0 sympatric species. Desert habitat with small oblanceolate to obovate leaves clustered on short lateral twigs.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, washes
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside
Outside California: western Arizona
Bloom period
Tetracoccus hallii blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Prunus: Tetracoccus has no petals and tiny leaves under 12mm; Prunus has showy 5-petaled flowers and larger leaves.; vs Eriogonum: Tetracoccus has whorled leaves and 3-4 lobed fruits; Eriogonum has alternate/basal leaves and 3-angled fruits.; vs Cneoridium: Tetracoccus flowers lack petals entirely; Cneoridium has 4 white petals.; vs Lycium: Tetracoccus has no petals and dry splitting capsules; Lycium has tubular flowers and fleshy berries.; vs Acer: Tetracoccus has tiny leaves under 12mm; Acer has large hand-shaped lobed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tetracoccus hallii native to California?
Yes. Tetracoccus hallii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Tetracoccus hallii bloom?
Tetracoccus hallii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Tetracoccus hallii grow?
Tetracoccus hallii occurs in San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Tetracoccus hallii belong to?
Tetracoccus hallii is in the Picrodendraceae family, genus Tetracoccus.
Is Tetracoccus hallii rare or endangered?
Tetracoccus hallii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
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.