Tiquilia plicata
Fan-leaved tiquilia, Fan-Leaved Tiquilia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Ehretiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Tiquilia plicata (Fan-leaved tiquilia) is a native California subshrub in the Ehretiaceae family, recognized by deeply sunken leaf veins creating fan-like pleating.
Fan-leaved tiquilia is a California native perennial found in desert bioregions in dune and sandy gravel flat habitats at elevations below 1,100 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces blue to lavender flowers 4 to 6 millimeters long clustered in leaf axils. Growing as a matted perennial with opposite branching stems that are somewhat glandular, it forms low-spreading clumps. Its leaves are clustered and white-canescent, with small obovate blades 3 to 12 millimeters long featuring 4 to 7 pairs of deeply sunken lateral veins. The fruit develops as a deeply 4-lobed structure with smooth, shiny ovoid nutlets.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; deeply sunken leaf veins creating fan-like pleating is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dunes, sandy gravel flats
Elevation: < 1100 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, Inyo, Kern
Outside California: western Arizona, southern Nevada, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Tiquilia plicata blooms Mar-Jul.
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 plicata native to California?
Yes. Tiquilia plicata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Tiquilia plicata bloom?
Tiquilia plicata blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Tiquilia plicata grow?
Tiquilia plicata occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, at elevations of < 1100 m.
What plant family does Tiquilia plicata belong to?
Tiquilia plicata is in the Ehretiaceae family, genus Tiquilia.
What habitat does Tiquilia plicata grow in?
Tiquilia plicata grows in Dunes, sandy gravel 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.