Thysanocarpus curvipes subsp. amplectens

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: annual · Native

Spreading rockcress is a California native annual found in southwestern desert and desert mountain regions in slopes, washes, moist meadows, woodlands, and streambank habitats at elevations below 2,500 meters. Its delicate white to pale lavender flowers appear in small clusters during spring. Growing with slender, glabrous stems reaching 10 to 30 centimeters tall, the plant has an upright and somewhat branching form. Its leaves are small and elongated, typically arranged alternately along the stem with lower leaves often wider and more rounded. The distinctive fruit features a unique wing with spoon-shaped lobes, creating an intricate silhouette less than 6 millimeters wide.

Habitat: Slopes, washes, moist meadows, woodland, streambanks

Elevation: < 2500 m

Bioregions: SW, D

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