Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber
Photo: parent species Streptanthus polygaloides · (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber is a native California annual in the Brassicaceae family.
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber is a California native annual found in serpentine areas of northern California chaparral, foothill woodland, and mixed evergreen forest at elevations of 270 to 1,210 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces striking yellow and red-purple flowers with distinctive petal structures, the adaxial sepals yellow while the other sepals display rich red-purple markings. Growing with slender stems typical of annual mustards, it develops delicate branching structures that support its unique floral display. Its leaves are likely narrow and elongated, characteristic of the Streptanthus genus, adapting to the serpentine soils of its specialized habitat. The flower's unusual color pattern, with yellow sepals contrasting against red-purple markings, makes this rare subspecies a distinctive botanical treasure of California's serpentine landscapes.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine outcrops in chaparral, foothill woodland, McNab cypress woodland, ponderosa pine forest, mixed evergreen forest
Elevation: 270-1210 m
Bloom period
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber blooms Apr-Jul.
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 polygaloides subsp. liber native to California?
Yes. Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber bloom?
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber belong to?
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Streptanthus.
What habitat does Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber grow in?
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber grows in Serpentine outcrops in chaparral, foothill woodland, McNab cypress woodland, ponderosa pine forest, mixed evergreen forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. polygaloides
- Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. purpureus — Purple milkwort jewelflower
- Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. undulatus — Pine flat jewelflower
- Streptanthus sp. — Jewelflower
- Streptanthus tortuosus — Mountain jewelflower
- Streptanthus tortuosus subsp. truei — True's mountain jewelflower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-15
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.