Draba californica

California draba

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

California draba is a native perennial herb ranked 4.2 by CNPS, found in the northern White Mountains of Mono County in open, rocky areas and grassy meadows at elevations of 3,250 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces small white flowers approximately 2 to 3 millimeters long with delicate white petals. Growing with short stems 4 to 9 centimeters tall, this diminutive plant features distinctive 4 to 8-rayed hairs covering its stems and leaves. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate, 6 to 20 millimeters long, with entire margins and hairy surfaces, while the plant typically has zero to three cauline leaves. The fruit is oblong to lanceolate, 6 to 9 millimeters long, bearing 22 to 32 flat seeds.

Habitat: Open, rocky areas, grassy meadows

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: 3250-4000 m

Bioregions: n W&ampI (White Mtns, Mono Co.).

California counties: Mono, Tulare, Alpine

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.