Cusickiella quadricostata
Bodie hills cusickiella, Bodie Hills Cusickiella
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim Messick · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Cusickiella quadricostata (Bodie hills cusickiella) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by key differences are leaf texture and cauline leaf presence, plus more restricted range.
Bodie hills cusickiella is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the southern eastern Sierra Nevada in Mono County, occurring on rocky flats, slopes, and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 2,300 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces small white to pale lavender flowers approximately 3 to 4.5 millimeters long. Growing with delicate stems 2 to 6 centimeters tall, it has distinctive branched and curled hairs with stiff simple hairs. Its narrow linear to oblong leaves have ciliate margins, with 1 to 5 cauline leaves functioning as bracts. The tiny ovoid fruit is 3 to 5 millimeters long with a distinctive 4-sided shape and a short 0.5 to 1 millimeter style.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differences are leaf texture and cauline leaf presence, plus more restricted range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky flats, sagebrush, slopes, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 2300-2800 m
California counties: Mono
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Cusickiella quadricostata blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 quadricostata native to California?
Yes. Cusickiella quadricostata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cusickiella quadricostata bloom?
Cusickiella quadricostata blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Cusickiella quadricostata grow?
Cusickiella quadricostata occurs in Mono, at elevations of 2300-2800 m.
What plant family does Cusickiella quadricostata belong to?
Cusickiella quadricostata is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Cusickiella.
Is Cusickiella quadricostata rare or endangered?
Cusickiella quadricostata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.