Caulanthus lemmonii
Lemmon's jewelflower
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Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Caulanthus lemmonii (Lemmon's jewelflower) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by terminal sterile clusters with wide erect fruits diagnostic.
Lemmon's jewelflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southwestern San Joaquin Valley, southeastern San Francisco Bay, eastern Coast Ranges, and southwestern Coast Ranges in grassland, chaparral, and scrub habitats at elevations of 80 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers with dark purple veins, 8 to 20 millimeters long with wavy margins. Growing 1 to 8 decimeters tall with branched stems that are bristly near the base and becoming glabrous towards the top, it develops distinctive branching patterns. Its leaves range from oblanceolate basal leaves with coarse teeth to narrow cauline leaves that are lanceolate with lobed or clasping bases. The erect fruits are cylindrical, 5 to 12 centimeters long with a strongly two-lobed stigma, containing 52 to 72 small ovoid seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; terminal sterile clusters with wide erect fruits diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, chaparral, scrub
Elevation: 80-1100 m
California counties: Alameda, San Luis Obispo, Kings, Kern, Stanislaus, Monterey, San Joaquin, Ventura, San Benito, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino
Bloom period
Caulanthus lemmonii blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Streptanthus: Seed pods are cylindrical and round versus flattened blade-like pods in Streptanthus.; vs Sisymbrium: Petals are distinctively crinkled and papery versus smooth petals in Sisymbrium.; vs Hirschfeldia: Young pods reflex sharply downward versus pointing upward or outward.; vs Boechera: Pods reflex downward and contain wingless seeds versus erect pods with winged seeds.; vs Brassica: Young seed pods bend sharply downward versus pointing upward in Brassica.
Frequently asked questions
Is Caulanthus lemmonii native to California?
Yes. Caulanthus lemmonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Caulanthus lemmonii bloom?
Caulanthus lemmonii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Caulanthus lemmonii grow?
Caulanthus lemmonii occurs in Alameda, San Luis Obispo, Kings, Kern, Stanislaus, Monterey, San Joaquin, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of 80-1100 m.
What plant family does Caulanthus lemmonii belong to?
Caulanthus lemmonii is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Caulanthus.
Is Caulanthus lemmonii rare or endangered?
Caulanthus lemmonii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.