Streptanthus drepanoides
Sickle-fruit jewelflower
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Streptanthus drepanoides (Sickle-fruit jewelflower) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by round succulent leaves and curved pods diagnostic.
Sickle-fruit jewelflower is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native annual found in southern Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada Foothill regions in open chaparral and Jeffrey-pine woodland on serpentine at elevations of 250 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to purple flowers with distinctive purple-veined petals approximately 7 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 40 to 350 centimeters tall that are generally glabrous and either simple or branched at the base, it develops succulent leaves with fascinating variation. Its leaves range from round basal leaves with few blunt teeth to mid-stem leaves 1.3 to 9 centimeters long, broadly ovate and sometimes cordate at the base, with entire or shallowly dentate margins. The fruit is a distinctively curved, slender pod spreading 3 to 9 centimeters long and containing 30 to 50 small seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; round succulent leaves and curved pods diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open chaparral or Jeffrey-pine woodland, on serpentine
Elevation: 250-1800 m
California counties: Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Shasta, Trinity
Bloom period
Streptanthus drepanoides blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Caulanthus: Seed pods are flattened like sword blades versus cylindrical tubes in Caulanthus.; vs Boechera: Robust plants often over 2.5 feet with large flowers (sepals 4-8mm) versus more delicate habit.; vs Claytonia: Mustard family with 4 petals and 6 stamens versus Claytonia with 5 petals.; vs Silene: Mustard family with seed pods versus Silene with inflated capsules and opposite leaves.; vs Lonicera: Herbaceous mustard with alternate leaves versus woody vine with opposite leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Streptanthus drepanoides native to California?
Yes. Streptanthus drepanoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Streptanthus drepanoides bloom?
Streptanthus drepanoides blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Streptanthus drepanoides grow?
Streptanthus drepanoides occurs in Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Shasta, Trinity, at elevations of 250-1800 m.
What plant family does Streptanthus drepanoides belong to?
Streptanthus drepanoides is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Streptanthus.
Is Streptanthus drepanoides rare or endangered?
Streptanthus drepanoides carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Streptanthus farnsworthianus — Farnsworth's jewelflower
- Streptanthus fenestratus — Tehipite valley jewelflower
- Streptanthus glandulosus — Bristly jewelflower
- Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus — Metcalf canyon jewelflower
- Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. arkii — Kruckeberg's bristly jewelflower
- Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. glandulosus — most beautiful jewelflower
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.