Rorippa sp.
Yellow cress, Yellow Cress
(c) mark-groeneveld, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by mark-groeneveld · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Rorippa sp. (Yellow cress) is a non-native California perennial in the Brassicaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Rorippa sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Rorippa sp. belong to?
Rorippa sp. is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Rorippa.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.