Polyctenium williamsiae
Williams' combleaf
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Polyctenium williamsiae (Williams' combleaf) is a California plant in the Brassicaceae family.
Note: Jepson eFlora does not treat this as a distinct taxon; it considers it a synonym of Polyctenium fremontii.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Differentiators are not available at this time.
Bloom period
Polyctenium williamsiae blooms Mar-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Sibara: Polyctenium leaves feel stiff and rigid like combs; Sibara leaves are soft and flexible.; vs Descurainia: Polyctenium has rigid prickly leaves and is perennial; Descurainia has soft fuzzy leaves and is annual.; vs Arabis: Polyctenium has deeply divided comb-like leaves; Arabis has simple undivided leaves with smooth or toothed edges.; vs Boechera: Polyctenium has rigid comb-divided leaves; Boechera has simple undivided leaves.; vs Arabidopsis: Polyctenium has rigid comb-like divided leaves; Arabidopsis has simple smooth-edged undivided leaves.
Frequently asked questions
When does Polyctenium williamsiae bloom?
Polyctenium williamsiae blooms Mar-Jul.
What plant family does Polyctenium williamsiae belong to?
Polyctenium williamsiae is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Polyctenium.
Is Polyctenium williamsiae rare or endangered?
Polyctenium williamsiae carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.