Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. polygaloides
Photo: parent species Streptanthus polygaloides · (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. polygaloides is a native California annual in the Brassicaceae family.
Streptanthus polygaloides is a California native annual found in serpentine landscapes of foothill pine and blue oak woodland at elevations of 250 to 760 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces delicate yellow flowers with distinctive petal characteristics, including claws with prominent yellow veins that widen toward the flower tips. Growing as a slender annual herb, it emerges from gravelly serpentine slopes and roadcuts with a delicate, upright structure. Its leaves and stems are adapted to the challenging serpentine environment, reflecting the plant's specialized habitat. The flower's unique yellow sepals and intricately shaped petal claws make this rare plant a distinctive component of California's serpentine chaparral ecosystems.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly serpentine slopes and roadcuts, in serpentine chaparral, foothill pine/blue oak woodland
Elevation: 250-760 m
Bloom period
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. polygaloides 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. polygaloides native to California?
Yes. Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. polygaloides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. polygaloides bloom?
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. polygaloides blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. polygaloides belong to?
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. polygaloides is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Streptanthus.
What habitat does Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. polygaloides grow in?
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. polygaloides grows in Gravelly serpentine slopes and roadcuts, in serpentine chaparral, foothill pine/blue oak woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Streptanthus tortuosus var. foliosus — Wawona 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.