Physaria kingii subsp. bernardina

San bernardino mountains bladderpod, San Bernardino Mountains Bladderpod

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered

San bernardino mountains bladderpod is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the San Bernardino Mountains in Big Bear Valley, specifically in dry pine forest flats at elevations of 1,850 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces small, distinctive yellow flowers in compact clusters. Growing with upright stems 15 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops a sturdy, compact form characteristic of alpine mountain plants. Its leaves are small, grayish-green, and densely clustered, providing excellent adaptation to its high-elevation habitat. The fruit features rounded, obtuse tips with smooth interior valves, containing 4 to 8 seeds that help ensure the plant's survival in challenging mountain environments.

Habitat: dry flats, pine forest

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: 1850-2400 m

Bioregions: SnBr (Big Bear Valley).

California counties: San Bernardino

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