Physaria kingii
King's bladderpod
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Physaria kingii (King's bladderpod) is a native California perennial in the Brassicaceae family.
King's bladderpod is a California native perennial found in rocky desert and montane habitats at elevations of 1,200 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers with obovate to oblanceolate petals 6 to 13 millimeters long. Growing with prostrate to erect stems 5 to 20 centimeters tall, it forms a simple or branched caudex with multiple stems. Its basal leaves are round to oblanceolate, 2 to 6 centimeters long, while cauline leaves are smaller and obovate to spoon-shaped, often with entire or wavy margins. The distinctive fruits are nearly spherical, 3 to 9 millimeters long, densely hairy on the exterior and compressed with a perforated septum.
Habitat and range
California counties: Inyo, Mono, Alpine, San Bernardino, Glenn
How to tell it apart
vs Cleomella: Physaria has 4 petals and inflated pods; Cleomella has 4 petals with long stamens extending far beyond and narrow capsules.; vs Draba: Physaria has consistently silvery webbed star-hairs; Draba has mixed simple and branched hairs creating a rougher texture.; vs Astragalus: Physaria has 4 petals and round cross-shaped flowers; Astragalus has pea-like flowers with banner, wings, and keel.; vs Erysimum: Physaria has inflated bladder fruits and silvery foliage; Erysimum has narrow cylindrical pods and green linear leaves.; vs Eriogonum: Physaria has 4-petaled flowers with visible stamens; Eriogonum has tiny flowers in ball-like clusters with papery bracts below.
Frequently asked questions
Is Physaria kingii native to California?
Yes. Physaria kingii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Physaria kingii grow?
Physaria kingii occurs in Inyo, Mono, Alpine, San Bernardino, Glenn.
What plant family does Physaria kingii belong to?
Physaria kingii is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Physaria.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.