Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra
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Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by non-glandular nature and spreading pedicels vs. subsp. brachycarpa.
Tansy mustard is a California native annual found in sandy areas, washes, scrub, oak and pine woodlands, and floodplains across California at elevations of 200 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces small pale yellow to white flowers less than 2 millimeters long with delicate, spreading pedicels. Growing with slender, upright stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it has a non-glandular and uncanescent growth habit. Its finely divided pinnate leaves are delicate, with multiple small leaflets creating a lacy, feathery appearance. The plant produces small, narrow fruits with pale pink-tipped sepals, adding subtle visual interest to its overall structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; key features are non-glandular nature and spreading pedicels vs. subsp. brachycarpa
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy areas, washes, scrub, oak/pine woodland, floodplains, limestone outcrops
Elevation: 200-2400 m
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Riverside, San Diego, Tulare, Ventura, Imperial, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Siskiyou, Fresno, Plumas, Santa Barbara, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, San Benito, El Dorado
Outside California: to Nevada, New Mexico, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra blooms Feb-Jun.
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 pinnata subsp. glabra native to California?
Yes. Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra bloom?
Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra grow?
Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Riverside, San Diego, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of 200-2400 m.
What plant family does Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra belong to?
Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Descurainia.
What habitat does Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra grow in?
Descurainia pinnata subsp. glabra grows in Sandy areas, washes, scrub, oak/pine woodland, floodplains, limestone outcrops.
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.