Thysanocarpus curvipes subsp. elegans

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: annual · Native

Elegant mustard is a California native annual found in the California Floristic Province and Desert bioregions on slopes, washes, moist meadows, and woodland streambanks at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering occurs with delicate white to pale lavender flowers arranged in small clusters. Growing with slender stems that are hairy near the base and smooth toward the tips, this plant reaches heights of 10 to 30 centimeters. Its leaves are simple and generally narrow, with a soft, slightly irregular shape that blends into the surrounding vegetation. The distinctive fruit features a delicate, rayed wing with small perforations, creating an intricate and nearly translucent silhouette.

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

Elevation: < 2500 m

Bioregions: CA-FP, D

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