Streptanthus insignis
San benito jewelflower, San Benito Jewelflower
(c) Pinnacles National Park, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pinnacles National Park · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Streptanthus insignis (San benito jewelflower) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by distinctive terminal sterile flower clusters.
San benito jewelflower is a California native annual found in serpentine habitats throughout the central coastal regions. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces dark purple to pale yellow flowers with distinctive white to lemon-yellow petals about 7 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with bristly stems 1.2 to 6 decimeters tall, the plant can be simple or branched towards the top. Its leaves range from basal lanceolate forms coarsely dentate to mid-stem sessile leaves with basal lobes, creating a complex foliage structure. The fruit develops as an ascending or reflexed pod 3.5 to 11.4 centimeters long, bearing 32 to 94 broadly oblong seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinctive terminal sterile flower clusters
Habitat and range
California counties: San Benito, Fresno, Monterey, Merced
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 insignis native to California?
Yes. Streptanthus insignis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Streptanthus insignis grow?
Streptanthus insignis occurs in San Benito, Fresno, Monterey, Merced.
What plant family does Streptanthus insignis belong to?
Streptanthus insignis is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Streptanthus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Streptanthus insignis subsp. insignis — plumed jewelflower
- Streptanthus insignis subsp. lyonii — Arburua ranch jewelflower
- Streptanthus juneae — June's jewelflower
- Streptanthus longisiliquus — Long-fruit jewelflower
- Streptanthus medeirosii — Tejon jewelflower
- Streptanthus morrisonii — Morrison's jewelflower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.