Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Gayophytum heterozygum is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name zigzag groundsmoke. It is native to the western United States where it grows mainly in forested mountain habitat. This is a spindly annual herb with a few forking branches which approaches 80 centimeters in maximum height. It has a sparse foliage of small, narrow leaves, most of which are on the lower half of the plant. It produces tiny white flowers toward the tops of the thin stems. The fruit is a lumpy-looking capsule.

Plant type

Annual herb

Size

3 ft Tall

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Color

White

Plant communities

Chaparral, Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Clark's Day Sphinx Moth

Proserpinus clarkiae

Pussy's Toes Pyrausta

Pyrausta unifascialis