Boechera pygmaea
Tulare county rockcress, Tulare County Rockcress
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Boechera pygmaea (Tulare county rockcress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by . Key features: very short stature, very wide pods, large seeds, limited range.
Tulare county rockcress is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in Tulare County on barren gravel flats at elevations of 2,100 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces small white flowers 3 to 5 millimeters long with delicate white petals. Growing with compact stems 2 to 8 centimeters tall, it emerges from a woody caudex with crowded leaf bases close to the ground surface. Its basal leaves are narrow, approximately 0.8 to 1.5 millimeters wide, with short-stalked branched hairs covering the surface. The plant produces erect fruits 1.3 to 3.3 centimeters long that are generally glabrous and contain 8 to 12 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species. Key features: very short stature, very wide pods, large seeds, limited range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Barren gravel flats
Elevation: 2100-3400 m
Bloom period
Boechera pygmaea blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Arabis: Boechera pods hang downward or curve and are wider (2mm+); Arabis pods stand rigidly erect and are narrower.; vs Matthiola: Boechera has flattened pods; Matthiola has cylindrical pods and densely hairy gray-green foliage.; vs Streptanthus: Boechera petals narrow gradually without a claw; Streptanthus petals have a distinct narrow claw at base.; vs Penstemon: Boechera has four-petaled flowers and seed pods; Penstemon has tubular five-lobed flowers.; vs Caulanthus: Boechera is perennial with a woody base; Caulanthus is typically annual or biennial without a woody caudex.
Frequently asked questions
Is Boechera pygmaea native to California?
Yes. Boechera pygmaea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera pygmaea bloom?
Boechera pygmaea blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Boechera pygmaea belong to?
Boechera pygmaea is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
Is Boechera pygmaea rare or endangered?
Boechera pygmaea carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Boechera pygmaea grow in?
Boechera pygmaea grows in Barren gravel flats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.