Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus
Metcalf canyon jewelflower, Metcalf Canyon Jewelflower
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus (Metcalf canyon jewelflower) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family.
Metcalf canyon jewelflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southeastern San Francisco Bay Area in Santa Clara County on serpentine, grassy, and barren slopes at elevations of 100 to 800 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white flowers with light brown or purplish veins, 11 to 17 millimeters long, creating delicate blooms against pale backgrounds. Growing 30 to 120 centimeters tall with stems that are sparsely hairy near the base and smooth towards the top, it develops an upright, elegant structure. Its cauline leaves are glabrous, with distal leaves remaining entire, creating a clean, simple foliage profile. The fruit develops as a straight, spreading to ascending structure, complementing the plant's slender and precise botanical architecture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with 0 sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine, grassy, barren slopes
Elevation: 100-800 m
California counties: Contra Costa, Santa Clara
Bloom period
Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
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 glandulosus subsp. albidus native to California?
Yes. Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus bloom?
Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus grow?
Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus occurs in Contra Costa, Santa Clara, at elevations of 100-800 m.
What plant family does Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus belong to?
Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Streptanthus.
Is Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus rare or endangered?
Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. albidus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. arkii — Kruckeberg's bristly jewelflower
- Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. glandulosus — most beautiful jewelflower
- Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. hoffmanii — Hoffman's bristly jewelflower
- Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. josephinensis — Josephine county jewelflower
- Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. niger — Tiburon jewelflower
- Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. pulchellus — Mount tamalpais bristly 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.