Streptanthus brachiatus

Socrates mine jewelflower

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: biennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Socrates mine jewelflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native biennial found in southern North Coast Ranges in serpentine barrens, open chaparral, and woodland at elevations of 600 to 950 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces green and purple flowers with white petals that have delicate purple veining and spotting. Growing with branched stems 14 to 50 centimeters tall, it emerges from a basal rosette with broadly obovate leaves that are fleshy and distinctively mottled. Its leaves transition from broad basal rosettes to smaller sessile cauline leaves, ranging from 0.7 to 3.7 centimeters long, with serrated or toothed edges. The plant produces elongated fruits 4 to 6 centimeters long that spread in an ascending pattern, bearing 22 to 30 small oblong seeds.

Habitat: Serpentine barrens, open chaparral or woodland

Bloom period: Jun-Jul

Elevation: 600-950 m

Bioregions: s NCoRI.

California counties: Sonoma, Lake, Napa

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.