Tripterocalyx micranthus
Small-flowered sand-verbena, Small-Flowered Sand-Verbena
(c) Peter L Achuff, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Nyctaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Tripterocalyx micranthus (Small-flowered sand-verbena) is a native California herb in the Nyctaginaceae family, recognized by flower color diagnostic.
Small-flowered sand-verbena is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the Mojave Desert on sand dunes at elevations of 800 to 2,450 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces green-white to light pink flowers in delicate clusters. Growing with stems less than 60 centimeters tall that are glandular-sticky and slightly rough to the touch, it spreads low across sandy terrain. Its leaves are narrowly ovate to elliptic, 1 to 6 centimeters long, with glandular hairs that are denser on the undersides of the leaves. These distinctive, soft-textured leaves and sticky stems help the plant survive in harsh desert environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated species with no sympatric congeners; flower color diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand dunes
Elevation: 800-2450 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo
Outside California: to Montana, South Dakota, New Mexico
Bloom period
Tripterocalyx micranthus blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Abronia: Tripterocalyx fruits have translucent see-through wings; Abronia fruits have thick opaque wings or no wings.; vs Allionia: Tripterocalyx has translucent winged fruits and many-flowered heads; Allionia has exactly 3 asymmetrical flowers per cluster.; vs Mirabilis: Tripterocalyx has translucent-winged fruits in rounded heads; Mirabilis has wingless fruits in cup-like bracts.; vs Acleisanthes: Tripterocalyx has small flowers in heads with translucent-winged fruits; Acleisanthes has giant trumpet flowers.; vs Boerhavia: Tripterocalyx has large translucent-winged fruits; Boerhavia has tiny club-shaped fruits under 4mm.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tripterocalyx micranthus native to California?
Yes. Tripterocalyx micranthus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Tripterocalyx micranthus bloom?
Tripterocalyx micranthus blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Tripterocalyx micranthus grow?
Tripterocalyx micranthus occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, at elevations of 800-2450 m.
What plant family does Tripterocalyx micranthus belong to?
Tripterocalyx micranthus is in the Nyctaginaceae family, genus Tripterocalyx.
Is Tripterocalyx micranthus rare or endangered?
Tripterocalyx micranthus carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S1.
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.