Thelypodium stenopetalum

Slender-petaled thelypodium

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: biennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered

Slender-petaled thelypodium is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native biennial found in Big Bear Valley in alkaline flats and lake shores at elevations of 1,900 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces lavender to white flowers 5 to 8 millimeters long with delicate crinkled petals. Growing 3 to 9 decimeters tall with simple or branched stems that are glaucous and mostly hairless, it develops an open inflorescence that expands significantly when fruiting. Its basal leaves are 1 to 4 centimeters long, entire and wavy, typically withering by fruiting time, while mid-stem leaves are sessile and sagittate, clasping the stem. The cylindric fruit develops 2.5 to 5 centimeters long, containing 50 to 82 plump seeds.

Habitat: Alkaline flats, lake shores

Bloom period: May-Aug

Elevation: 1900-2200 m

Bioregions: SnBr (Big Bear Valley).

California counties: San Bernardino, Mariposa

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