Descurainia pinnata subsp. ochroleuca
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Descurainia pinnata subsp. ochroleuca is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Desert tansy mustard is a California native annual found in southeastern California in gravelly hills, desert grasslands, and roadsides at elevations of 200 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small purple or pink flowers less than 2 millimeters long in delicate clusters. Growing with densely hairy stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms spreading branches at shallow angles. Its finely divided leaves are densely whitish-gray (canescent), with intricate pinnate segments that give the plant a feathery appearance. The plant's sparse, small flowers and soft, gray foliage help it blend seamlessly into arid desert landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly hills, desert grassland, roadsides
Elevation: 200-2400 m
Outside California: to Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Descurainia pinnata subsp. ochroleuca blooms Mar-May.
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. ochroleuca native to California?
Yes. Descurainia pinnata subsp. ochroleuca is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Descurainia pinnata subsp. ochroleuca bloom?
Descurainia pinnata subsp. ochroleuca blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Descurainia pinnata subsp. ochroleuca belong to?
Descurainia pinnata subsp. ochroleuca is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Descurainia.
What habitat does Descurainia pinnata subsp. ochroleuca grow in?
Descurainia pinnata subsp. ochroleuca grows in Gravelly hills, desert grassland, roadsides.
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.