Sibara deserti
Desert winged rockcress, Desert Winged Rockcress
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Sibara deserti (Desert winged rockcress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by desert habitat and white flowers.
Desert winged rockcress is a native annual herb found in northern and eastern Mojave Desert regions, inhabiting washes, steep hillsides, dry flats, scree, calcareous rubble, rocky bluffs, and exposed crevices at elevations of 50 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from March to April, this delicate plant produces small white flowers with distinctive petals emerging on slender stems. Growing with branched stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall, it develops intricate, deeply divided cauline leaves with linear to lance-linear lobes 2 to 20 millimeters long. Its leaves feature minute, forked or many-branched hairs, creating a fine, intricate texture across the plant's slender structure. The small white flowers develop into spreading or reflexed fruits with tiny oblong seeds approximately 1 to 1.4 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated (0 sympatric species). Distinguished by desert habitat and white flowers.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Washes, steep hillsides, dry flats, scree, calcareous rubble, rocky bluffs, exposed crevices
Elevation: 50-1400 m
California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino
Outside California: southeastern Nevada
Bloom period
Sibara deserti blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Caulanthus: Sibara leaves are feathery with thread-like segments; jewelflower leaves are broader with teeth.; vs Cardamine: Sibara has thread-like leaf segments; bitter cress has broader leaflets.; vs Planodes: Sibara seeds lack wings; Planodes seeds have papery wings.; vs Cakile: Sibara has delicate thread-like leaves; sea rocket has thick fleshy leaves.; vs Polyctenium: Sibara is annual with soft leaves; Polyctenium is perennial with rigid leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sibara deserti native to California?
Yes. Sibara deserti is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sibara deserti bloom?
Sibara deserti blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Sibara deserti grow?
Sibara deserti occurs in Inyo, San Bernardino, at elevations of 50-1400 m.
What plant family does Sibara deserti belong to?
Sibara deserti is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Sibara.
Is Sibara deserti rare or endangered?
Sibara deserti carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.