Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. liber

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: annual · Native

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: Serpentine outcrops in chaparral, foothill woodland, McNab cypress woodland, ponderosa pine forest, mixed evergreen forest

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: 270-1210 m

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