Thelypodium laciniatum
Cutleaf thelypody
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Thelypodium laciniatum (Cutleaf thelypody) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by lobed leaves and very long fruits with high seed count.
Cutleaf thelypody is a native biennial found in the Great Basin and northern California Rocky Hills in rocky hillsides and basalt cliffs at elevations of 600 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces delicate white to purple flowers 7 to 18 millimeters long with crinkled linear petals. Growing 2.5 to 10 feet tall with solid stems throughout, it develops a robust upright form. Its basal leaves are pinnately lobed, measuring 4 to 24 centimeters long, with middle leaves showing dentate to pinnately lobed edges. The plant produces elongated cylindric fruits 3.5 to 10 centimeters long, containing 56 to 108 small oblong seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; diagnostic lobed leaves and very long fruits with high seed count
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky hillsides, basalt cliffs
Elevation: 600-1900 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, Siskiyou, Lassen, Santa Barbara
Outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho
Bloom period
Thelypodium laciniatum blooms Apr-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Stanleya: Flower stalks barely visible versus quarter-inch-plus dramatic stalks in Stanleya.; vs Caulanthus: Seed pods sit on distinct stalks above flower base versus sitting directly on base.; vs Brassica: Purple to white flowers with stalked pods versus yellow flowers in Brassica.; vs Boechera: Robust plants with relatively large flowers (6-16mm) versus delicate plants with smaller flowers.; vs Noccaea: Tall stems with purple-white flowers versus low rosette plants with tiny white flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thelypodium laciniatum native to California?
Yes. Thelypodium laciniatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Thelypodium laciniatum bloom?
Thelypodium laciniatum blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Thelypodium laciniatum grow?
Thelypodium laciniatum occurs in Inyo, Mono, Siskiyou, Lassen, Santa Barbara, at elevations of 600-1900 m.
What plant family does Thelypodium laciniatum belong to?
Thelypodium laciniatum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Thelypodium.
What habitat does Thelypodium laciniatum grow in?
Thelypodium laciniatum grows in Rocky hillsides, basalt cliffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.