Thysanocarpus curvipes
Fringe pod
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Thysanocarpus curvipes (Fringe pod) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by No sympatric species; complete geographic isolation but limited range data.
Fringe pod is a California native annual found in various bioregions in open grasslands, rocky areas, and disturbed sites. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces small purple flowers with purple fertile anthers, rarely featuring whitish or yellowish infertile anthers. Growing 10 to 60 centimeters tall with hairy stems, particularly near the base, it develops an open raceme of delicate blooms. Its leaves vary distinctively, with basal leaves 1 to 13 centimeters long, oblanceolate to obovate and slightly toothed, while cauline leaves are lanceolate with lobed bases that clasp the stem. The fruit is a distinctive winged pod 3 to 9 millimeters wide, with a flat or slightly incurved wing featuring unique spoon-shaped lobes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: No sympatric species; complete geographic isolation but limited range data
Habitat and range
California counties: Placer, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, El Dorado, Imperial, Lake, Mariposa, Monterey, Riverside, San Benito, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Del Norte, Santa Clara, Solano, Napa, Merced, Orange, Yuba, Fresno, Butte, Tulare, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Trinity, Tuolumne, Contra Costa, Calaveras, Madera, Amador, Nevada, Colusa, Sutter, Mendocino, San Mateo, Shasta, Sonoma, San Joaquin, Glenn, Sacramento, Alameda, Siskiyou, Marin, Humboldt, Lassen, Plumas, Yolo, Tehama, Modoc, San Francisco, Sierra, Alpine
Bloom period
Thysanocarpus curvipes blooms Feb-Jun.
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 curvipes native to California?
Yes. Thysanocarpus curvipes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Thysanocarpus curvipes bloom?
Thysanocarpus curvipes blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Thysanocarpus curvipes grow?
Thysanocarpus curvipes occurs in Placer, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, El Dorado, Imperial and other counties.
What plant family does Thysanocarpus curvipes belong to?
Thysanocarpus curvipes is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Thysanocarpus.
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.