Tiquilia nuttallii
Annual tiquilia, Annual Tiquilia
(c) nmoorhatch, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ehretiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Tiquilia nuttallii (Annual tiquilia) is a native California herb in the Ehretiaceae family, recognized by unique annual habit.
Annual tiquilia is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, eastern Mono/Inyo, Mojave Desert, and Southeastern Desert regions in sandy plains, pumice gravel, washes, slopes, and saline flats at elevations up to 2,750 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces pink to white flowers clustered in leaf axils, with blossoms approximately 3 to 4 millimeters long. Growing with prostrate rosettes and opposite branching stems with appressed hairs, it forms low-spreading clusters across arid landscapes. Its leaves are small and delicate, clustered with spreading hairs, with ovate to round blades 3.5 to 9 millimeters long and entire margins. The fruit develops as four-lobed nutlets that are oblong-ovoid, smooth, and shiny.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; unique annual habit is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy plains, pumice gravel, washes, slopes, saline flats
Elevation: < 2750 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, Mono, Lassen, San Bernardino, Tulare, Modoc, Imperial, Riverside
Outside California: to Washington, Utah, also Argentina
Bloom period
Tiquilia nuttallii blooms May-Aug.
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 nuttallii native to California?
Yes. Tiquilia nuttallii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Tiquilia nuttallii bloom?
Tiquilia nuttallii blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Tiquilia nuttallii grow?
Tiquilia nuttallii occurs in Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, Mono, Lassen, San Bernardino, Tulare, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of < 2750 m.
What plant family does Tiquilia nuttallii belong to?
Tiquilia nuttallii is in the Ehretiaceae family, genus Tiquilia.
What habitat does Tiquilia nuttallii grow in?
Tiquilia nuttallii grows in Sandy plains, pumice gravel, washes, slopes, saline flats.
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.