Tiquilia canescens
Shrubby tiquilia, Shrubby Tiquilia
(c) W. Terry Hunefeld, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ehretiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Tiquilia canescens (Shrubby tiquilia) is a native California subshrub in the Ehretiaceae family, recognized by Woody desert subshrub; branches ALTERNATE; white-tomentose ovate spiny-ciliate leaves; se Mojave & Sonoran deserts.
Shrubby tiquilia is a California native perennial subshrub found in arid regions of the southwestern deserts at moderate elevations. Flowering from spring to early summer, this plant produces small white flowers clustered in leaf axils with delicate, barely visible petals. Growing with multiple alternate branches covered in spreading hairs, it forms a compact shrubby structure 15 to 30 centimeters tall. Its leaves are notably white-tomentose, with narrow elliptic blades 5 to 13 millimeters long, featuring entire margins and spiny-ciliate edges. The plant produces small spherical fruits with four distinct grooves, containing ovoid nutlets 2 to 2.5 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Woody desert subshrub; branches ALTERNATE; white-tomentose ovate spiny-ciliate leaves; se Mojave & Sonoran deserts
Habitat and range
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, Nevada, Los Angeles
How to tell it apart
vs Eriogonum: Tiquilia has opposite leaves and tubular flowers; Eriogonum has basal/alternate leaves and petal-less flowers in heads.; vs Nama: Tiquilia forms ground-hugging mats with sessile flowers at forks; Nama is more upright with stalked flowers.; vs Croton: Tiquilia has showy tubular flowers; Croton has tiny inconspicuous greenish flowers without petals.; vs Euphorbia: Tiquilia has regular tubular flowers with 5 petals; Euphorbia has specialized cup-like flower structures with milky sap.; vs Heliotropium: Tiquilia has a deeply forked style with 2 stigmas; Heliotropium has an undivided style or single stigma.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tiquilia canescens native to California?
Yes. Tiquilia canescens is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Tiquilia canescens grow?
Tiquilia canescens occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, Nevada, Los Angeles.
What plant family does Tiquilia canescens belong to?
Tiquilia canescens is in the Ehretiaceae family, genus Tiquilia.
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.