Descurainia nelsonii
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Descurainia nelsonii is a native California annual in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by small stature and tiny flowers/fruits.
Nelson's tansy mustard is a California native annual found in the Great Basin and Mojave Desert (Calico Mountains) in roadsides, sagebrush scrub, dry washes, and gravelly ground at elevations of 800 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces small yellow flowers on slender stems. Growing 30 to 45 centimeters tall with multiple branching stems, it appears green and sparsely to densely hairy. Its lower leaves are intricately divided with 2 to 5 pairs of lateral lobes, creating a delicate, feathery appearance with segments that are entire or slightly toothed. The plant produces linear seed pods 3 to 8 millimeters long with prominent midveins and straight, ascending pedicels.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; small stature and tiny flowers/fruits are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, sagebrush scrub, dry washes, silty flats, gravelly ground
Elevation: 800-3000 m
Outside California: to Washington, Montana, Wyoming
Bloom period
Descurainia nelsonii blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Sisymbrium: Descurainia has soft fuzzy many-branched hairs; Sisymbrium is smooth or has simple unbranched hairs.; vs Lepidium: Descurainia has feathery divided leaves; Lepidium has simple or less-divided leaves and round flat pods.; vs Hirschfeldia: Descurainia has finely divided feathery leaves; Hirschfeldia has lobed but not finely dissected leaves.; vs Brassica: Descurainia has finely divided lacy leaves; Brassica has lobed or simple leaves, not finely dissected.; vs Erodium: Descurainia has four petals and cylindrical pods; Erodium has five petals and long-beaked fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Descurainia nelsonii native to California?
Yes. Descurainia nelsonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Descurainia nelsonii bloom?
Descurainia nelsonii blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Descurainia nelsonii belong to?
Descurainia nelsonii is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Descurainia.
What habitat does Descurainia nelsonii grow in?
Descurainia nelsonii grows in Roadsides, sagebrush scrub, dry washes, silty flats, gravelly ground.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.