Cusickiella douglasii
Alkali cusickiella
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cusickiella douglasii (Alkali cusickiella) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by key differences are leaf texture and presence/absence of cauline leaves.
Alkali cusickiella is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and Great Basin on rocky ridges, scree, and loose volcanic slopes at elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces small white to pale purple flowers 3.5 to 6 millimeters long with delicate sepals. Growing with extremely short stems just 1 to 5 centimeters tall, it forms dense, crisped-hairy clumps characteristic of alpine and subalpine environments. Its thick, leathery leaves are oblanceolate to oblong with ciliate margins, adapted to harsh rocky terrain. The small ovoid fruits measure 3 to 5.5 millimeters long, with a short style and spreading pedicel.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differences are leaf texture and presence/absence of cauline leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky ridges, scree, loose volcanic slopes
Elevation: 1500-2500 m
California counties: Lassen, San Bernardino, Plumas, Mono, Mendocino, Nevada, Sierra, Modoc, Alpine, Placer
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, Utah
Bloom period
Cusickiella douglasii blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Draba: Cusickiella has 1-4 seeds per pod; Draba has 10+ seeds per pod.; vs Anelsonia: Cusickiella has 1-4 seeds per pod; Anelsonia has 10+ seeds per pod.; vs Lyrocarpa: Cusickiella has oval pods; Lyrocarpa has distinctive heart-shaped, notched pods.; vs Polyctenium: Cusickiella has undivided toothed leaves; Polyctenium has deeply divided feathery leaves.; vs Smelowskia: Cusickiella has simple undivided leaves; Smelowskia has soft fern-like divided leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cusickiella douglasii native to California?
Yes. Cusickiella douglasii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cusickiella douglasii bloom?
Cusickiella douglasii blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Cusickiella douglasii grow?
Cusickiella douglasii occurs in Lassen, San Bernardino, Plumas, Mono, Mendocino, Nevada, Sierra, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of 1500-2500 m.
What plant family does Cusickiella douglasii belong to?
Cusickiella douglasii is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Cusickiella.
What habitat does Cusickiella douglasii grow in?
Cusickiella douglasii grows in Rocky ridges, scree, loose volcanic slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.