Thysanocarpus desertorum
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Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Thysanocarpus desertorum is a native California annual in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by No sympatric species; complete geographic isolation in southeastern deserts.
Desert sandpod is a California native annual found in southeastern desert regions of Inyo, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties in sandy washes and rocky slopes at elevations of 600 to 1,850 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small yellow-anthered flowers with delicate green or purplish petals. Growing with slender stems up to several dozen centimeters tall, it appears glabrous with sparse rough hairs near its base. Its distinctive leaves range from oblanceolate to elliptic, with basal leaves often having wavy or lobed edges and cauline leaves featuring wedge-shaped bases with partial lobing. The fruit is an unusual obovate pod with a flat or slightly incurved wing, typically 2.5 to 4 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: No sympatric species; complete geographic isolation in southeastern deserts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy washes, rocky slopes
Elevation: 600-1850 m
Bloom period
Thysanocarpus desertorum blooms Mar-May.
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 desertorum native to California?
Yes. Thysanocarpus desertorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Thysanocarpus desertorum bloom?
Thysanocarpus desertorum blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Thysanocarpus desertorum belong to?
Thysanocarpus desertorum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Thysanocarpus.
What habitat does Thysanocarpus desertorum grow in?
Thysanocarpus desertorum grows in Sandy washes, rocky slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.