Rorippa curvipes
Bluntleaf yellow cress
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Rorippa curvipes (Bluntleaf yellow cress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by fruit shape and small flowers are key distinguishing features.
Bluntleaf yellow cress is a native perennial found in California's Foothill Provinces and Southeastern deserts in muddy shores, streambanks, and meadows at elevations of 100 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces small yellow flowers with delicate oblanceolate petals. Growing with erect or ascending stems 10 to 42 centimeters tall that are stiff-hairy near the base, it develops multiple stems from its base. Its leaves are oblong to obovate, ranging from 3.5 to 10 centimeters long, with bases that can be lobed or clasping and edges that are pinnately lobed or toothed. The plant produces small curved fruits 2 to 8 millimeters long with numerous tiny reniform seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; fruit shape and small flowers are key distinguishing features
Habitat and range
Habitat: Muddy shores, streambanks, meadows, seepage areas
Elevation: 100-3500 m
California counties: Mono, San Bernardino, Riverside, Fresno, Tulare, Mendocino, Placer, Sonoma, Marin, Los Angeles, Inyo, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Siskiyou, Lassen, Contra Costa, Solano, San Diego, Alpine, Trinity
Outside California: North America
Bloom period
Rorippa curvipes blooms May-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Barbarea: Rorippa stems stay round and smooth; Barbarea stems develop distinct ridges or angles you can feel.; vs Sisymbrium: Rorippa has a simple rounded stigma tip; Sisymbrium's stigma is clearly two-lobed.; vs Nasturtium: Rorippa pods are short and plump; Nasturtium pods are elongated and curved like tiny bananas.; vs Hirschfeldia: Rorippa grows in wet areas with rounded pods; Hirschfeldia prefers dry disturbed sites with beaked pods.; vs Cystopteris: Rorippa has yellow four-petaled flowers and seed pods; Cystopteris is a fern with no flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rorippa curvipes native to California?
Yes. Rorippa curvipes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rorippa curvipes bloom?
Rorippa curvipes blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Rorippa curvipes grow?
Rorippa curvipes occurs in Mono, San Bernardino, Riverside, Fresno, Tulare, Mendocino, Placer, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of 100-3500 m.
What plant family does Rorippa curvipes belong to?
Rorippa curvipes is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Rorippa.
What habitat does Rorippa curvipes grow in?
Rorippa curvipes grows in Muddy shores, streambanks, meadows, seepage areas.
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.