Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica
Kneeland prairie pennycress, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress
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Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica (Kneeland prairie pennycress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by .1 ranking.
Kneeland prairie pennycress is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the northern California Coast Ranges on Kneeland Prairie in serpentine outcrops at elevations of 500 to 700 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces delicate white flowers 6 to 8 millimeters long with petals approximately 1.6 to 2.5 millimeters wide. Growing with compact stems 9.5 to 11.5 centimeters tall, the plant forms a small, dense cluster. Its basal leaves are distinctive, spoon-shaped to obovate, 5 to 7 millimeters wide with tapered bases, while the plant bears 2 to 5 cauline leaves. The fruit is wingless, measuring 7 to 10.5 millimeters long and 2.7 to 4 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated (0 sympatric species), rare CNPS 1B.1 ranking
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine outcrops
Elevation: 500-700 m
California counties: Trinity, Mendocino, Humboldt, Siskiyou
Bloom period
Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
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 subsp. californica native to California?
Yes. Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica bloom?
Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica grow?
Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica occurs in Trinity, Mendocino, Humboldt, Siskiyou, at elevations of 500-700 m.
What plant family does Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica belong to?
Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Noccaea.
Is Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica rare or endangered?
Noccaea fendleri subsp. californica carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.