Inyo gilia facts for kids

The Inyo gilia plant with its small white flowers.

The Inyo gilia (scientific name: Linanthus inyoensis) is a small, beautiful flowering plant. It used to be called Gilia inyoensis. This plant belongs to the phlox family, which includes many colorful garden flowers.

About the Inyo Gilia

This tiny plant is a type of herb. It grows to be very small, usually no taller than 10 centimeters (about 4 inches). Its stem is super thin, almost like a hair! The upper part of the stem feels a bit sticky, and the lower part has soft white hairs.

What it Looks Like

The leaves of the Inyo gilia are also tiny, only a few millimeters long. They are shaped like small ovals. Sometimes, these leaves have a few tiny teeth along their edges. They can also feel a bit hairy.

The plant usually has one pair of small, white flowers. These flowers have bright yellow centers. You might see tiny stamens (the parts that hold pollen) poking out from the yellow middle.

Where it Lives

The Inyo gilia is found in the western parts of the Great Basin and the eastern parts of California and western Nevada. It grows in several different natural areas. You can find it where the Great Basin meets the Sierra Nevada mountains. It also lives in the high parts of the Sierra Nevada, the Inyo Mountains, and the White Mountains. It's a common plant in these regions.