Alyssum desertorum

Desert alyssum

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Desert alyssum is a naturalized perennial found in southern central California interior ranges and Modoc Plateau in disturbed areas and rocky sagebrush flats at elevations of 1,000 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces light yellow flowers with small petals 2 to 2.5 millimeters long. Growing with ascending to erect stems 10 to 28 centimeters tall, it develops a distinctive stellate (star-shaped) hair covering on its stems and leaves. Its small leaves are covered with appressed stellate hairs, giving the plant a soft, gray-green appearance. The fruit is round and shallow-notched, measuring 2.5 to 4 millimeters long with tiny ovate seeds.

Habitat: Disturbed areas, rocky sagebrush flats

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: 1000-1500 m

Bioregions: SCoRI, MP

California counties: Modoc, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Tehama, Shasta, Lassen, Butte, San Benito

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