Zeltnera namophila

Spring-loving centaury

Family: Gentianaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened

Spring-loving centaury is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in the eastern Sierra Nevada and Mojave Desert bioregions in wet alkaline meadows near springs or lakes at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces delicate pink to white flowers with lanceolate lobes 5 to 8 millimeters long, arranged in an open, elongate panicle-like inflorescence. Growing with slender stems 15 to 60 centimeters tall, it develops an upright, branching structure with multiple flowering branches. Its cauline leaves are linear to thread-like, measuring 10 to 50 millimeters in length, creating a sparse, delicate foliage along the stem. The plant's distinctive stigma is approximately two-lobed, contributing to its unique botanical character.

Habitat: Wet alkaline meadows, generally near springs or lakes or in alkaline marshes

Bloom period: Jul-Sep

Elevation: < 700 m

Bioregions: SNE, DMoj

California counties: Inyo, Mono

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.