Noccaea fendleri
Pennycress
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Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Noccaea fendleri (Pennycress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by Only *Noccaea* in CA; glaucous perennial mustard from a caudex, montane N mountains; congeners are its own 2 subspecies.
Pennycress is a California native perennial found in rocky, open areas at moderate elevations. Flowering from spring to early summer, this plant produces small white flowers with delicate spoon-shaped petals. Growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall with simple or branched stems, it develops a distinctive branched or simple underground caudex. Its leaves are relatively small, ranging from 0.4 to 3 centimeters long, with ovate to oblong cauline blades. The plant appears slightly glaucous, with seeds that are small, ovate, and typically 2 to 10 in number.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only *Noccaea* in CA; glaucous perennial mustard from a caudex, montane N mountains; congeners are its own 2 subspecies
Habitat and range
California counties: Siskiyou
How to tell it apart
vs Caulanthus: Noccaea has broad rounded pods; Caulanthus has long narrow cylindrical pods.; vs Thelypodium: Noccaea produces flattened heart-shaped pods; Thelypodium produces elongated linear pods.; vs Brassica: Noccaea pods are rounded and heart-shaped; Brassica pods are elongated with a beaked tip.; vs Boechera: Noccaea has rounded heart-shaped pods; Boechera has long narrow flattened pods.; vs Thlaspi: Noccaea is perennial with smooth yellow-brown seeds; Thlaspi is annual with ridged blackish-brown seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Noccaea fendleri native to California?
Yes. Noccaea fendleri is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Noccaea fendleri grow?
Noccaea fendleri occurs in Siskiyou.
What plant family does Noccaea fendleri belong to?
Noccaea fendleri is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Noccaea.
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.