U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
California

Boggs Lake Hedge Hyssop
(Gratiola heterosepala )
Scrophulariaceae (figwort family)

Boggs Lake Hedge Hyssop
Photo by Joe Molter, BLM

Description: Annual, smooth-stemmed herb, 1-3/16 to 4 inches (3-10 cm) tall. Leaves lance shaped with upper ones having either a blunt tip or notched margin. Sepals 1/8 -1/4 inch (4-6 mm) long and unequal. Petals 5, upper 2 yellow and fused, lower 3, cleft and white.

Identifying Features:

  1. Blunt leaves and sepals.
  2. Flower lobes white and yellow.

Distribution:

Lassen, Modoc, Shasta and Tehama Counties.  Also in Oregon.

Within public lands administered by the Alturas Field Office found between Pittville and Peterson Ranch along the Shasta-Lassen County line and Green Place Reservoir southwest of Day California. Also in the Warner Mountains.

Within public lands administered by the Eaglelake Field Office found  NE of Horse Lake along Horse Lake Rd.

Within public lands administered by the Redding Field Office, this species is found in Tehama County on the east side of the Sacramento Valley.

Habitat: Vernal pools, lake or reservoir margins in shallow water or moist ground on adobe soil. In grassland, oak woodlands, sagebrush-juniper to pine forest type. Found at elevations from 650 to 5,600 feet (198 to 1707 meters).

Flowering Period: April - June

Similar Plants: Gratiola ebracteata, but it has pointed leaves, longer (5/16-7/8 inches, 8-23mm) more pointed sepals, white flowers, and unusally taller, to 10 inches (25cm).

Status: California State Endangered, California Native Plant Society List 1B

 

Glossary of
Plant Terms

Diagram of Plant Parts

Definitions of
Plant Status

  Field Office: Redding, Alturas, Hollister, Eagle Lake, Bakersfield