Rorippa sinuata
Spreading yellow cress
(c) Jo Roberts, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Rorippa sinuata (Spreading yellow cress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by sac-like leaf hairs and large flowers with recurved pedicels.
Spreading yellow cress is a California native perennial found in the Great Basin in lake shores, streambanks, and moist fields at elevations of 900 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces small yellow flowers in elongated clusters, with petals 3 to 5 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent to prostrate stems 10 to 42 centimeters tall, it spreads via rhizomes and branches extensively toward the stem tips. Its mid-stem leaves are pinnately lobed, 2.5 to 6.5 centimeters long, with oblong or ovate lateral lobes that may be dentate or wavy. The mature plant produces slender, curved siliques 4.7 to 11.5 millimeters long that contain 50 to 82 small, reniform seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; sac-like leaf hairs and large flowers with recurved pedicels are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Lake shores, streambanks, fields, moist ground
Elevation: 900-2600 m
Outside California: to Canada, central United States, Texas
Bloom period
Rorippa sinuata blooms Apr-Aug.
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 sinuata native to California?
Yes. Rorippa sinuata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rorippa sinuata bloom?
Rorippa sinuata blooms Apr-Aug.
What plant family does Rorippa sinuata belong to?
Rorippa sinuata is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Rorippa.
What habitat does Rorippa sinuata grow in?
Rorippa sinuata grows in Lake shores, streambanks, fields, moist ground.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.