Streptanthus tortuosus var. optatus

Sierran foothill jewelflower

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Sierran foothill jewelflower is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada foothills on rocky granitic and serpentine slopes, in river canyons with foothill woodland and lower montane conifer forest at elevations of 140 to 1,585 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces yellow flowers with sepals 6 to 13.5 millimeters long and petals 10.3 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with simple or branched stems 4.6 to 10 decimeters tall emerging from a woody caudex, it develops distinctive branching in the upper portions. Its leaves vary from narrowly obovate basal blades 2 to 3.5 centimeters long to lance-ovate mid-stem leaves with acute tips. The fruit develops as a spreading pod 4.5 to 15 centimeters long, held on ascending pedicels.

Habitat: On rocky granitic or metamorphic (including serpentine) slopes, outcrops, and roadcuts, in river canyons with foothill woodland, riparian woodland, lower montane conifer forest

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: 140-1585 m

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