Thysanocarpus conchuliferus
Santa cruz island fringepod, Santa Cruz Island Fringepod
(c) Mike Butler, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2 · Endangered
Thysanocarpus conchuliferus (Santa cruz island fringepod) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by geographic isolation on Santa Cruz Island plus distinctive small stature and dense inflorescence.
Santa cruz island fringepod is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in northern Channel Islands on Santa Cruz Island in open, dry slopes and cliffs at elevations of 50 to 500 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces small whitish to purplish flowers with delicate, spoon-shaped petals approximately 2 to 2.5 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 5 to 15 centimeters tall, it has a glabrous structure with distinctive leaf variation. Its basal leaves are 1 to 3 centimeters long, oblanceolate to elliptic and pinnately lobed, while cauline leaves are lanceolate, sessile, and clasping at the base. The fruit is particularly notable for its round shape with a strongly incurved wing that has unique spoon-shaped lobes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; geographic isolation on Santa Cruz Island plus distinctive small stature and dense inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, dry slopes, cliffs
Elevation: 50-500 m
Bloom period
Thysanocarpus conchuliferus blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2 · Endangered
How to tell it apart
vs Lepidium: Fruits hang downward like lanterns versus standing upright in Lepidium.; vs Athysanus: Fruits have distinctive papery wings with radiating veins versus wingless tiny fruits.; vs Capsella: Fruits are round with lacy wings versus triangular heart-shaped pods.; vs Briza: Mustard with flat winged fruits versus grass with dangling spikelets.; vs Eriogonum: Annual mustard with winged hanging fruits versus buckwheat with ball-like flower clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thysanocarpus conchuliferus native to California?
Yes. Thysanocarpus conchuliferus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Thysanocarpus conchuliferus bloom?
Thysanocarpus conchuliferus blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Thysanocarpus conchuliferus belong to?
Thysanocarpus conchuliferus is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Thysanocarpus.
Is Thysanocarpus conchuliferus rare or endangered?
Thysanocarpus conchuliferus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Thysanocarpus conchuliferus grow in?
Thysanocarpus conchuliferus grows in Open, dry slopes, cliffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.