Nemophila spatulata

Nemophila spatulata is a dicot in the family of Hydrophyllaceae. It is an annual herb that grows in California. It also is found outside of California, but it is restricted to Western North America. The common name for N. spatulata is the Sierra Baby-blue Eyes or Sierra Nemophila.

The flowers of N. spatulata are bowl-shaped, white or blue and generally veined and dotted. The lobes are sometimes purple-spotted. The corolla is 2-8 mm long and 2-10 mm wide. The leaves are opposite, 5-30 mm long and the petiole is winged. The lower blades have 3-5 lobes, are shallow and generally entire. The upper blade lobes have 3-5 triangular teeth.

The seeds are brown and are smooth but shallowly pitted. The fruit produces between 5-7 seeds.

Habitat and Plant Communities

N. spatulata is found on slopes in elevations between 4,000 and 10,500 feet. They exist in the following plant communities:

• Yellow pine forest
• Red fir forest
• Lodgepole forest

Bioregional Distribution

N. spatulata is distributed in meadows, road banks and woodlands. They are found in the following areas:

• High Cascade Range
• S. Sierra Nevada Foothills
• High Sierra Nevada
• Tehachapi Mountain Area
• Transverse Ranges
• San Bernardino Mountains
• San Jacinto Mountains
• Warner Mountains

References

• USDA National Resource Conservation Service PLANTS Database
• Jepson Flora Project (1993): Nemophila spatulata
• Calflora