Alyssum alyssoides

Pale alyssum

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Pale alyssum is a naturalized perennial found in eastern Klamath Ranges and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in disturbed areas, flats, ledges, and bluffs at elevations below 1,800 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces cream to white flowers that are small and linear to narrowly oblanceolate, measuring 2 to 3 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 20 to 35 centimeters tall, the plant is characterized by distinctive stellate hairs that are mostly appressed with some spreading simple hairs. Its leaves and stems are covered in a mix of star-shaped and simple hairs, giving the plant a soft, textured appearance. The small round fruits are 3 to 4 millimeters long, slightly bulged over the seed, and covered in fine hairs.

Habitat: Disturbed areas, flats, ledges, bluffs

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: < 1800 m

Bioregions: e KR, n SNH

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