Thysanocarpus rigidus

Rigid fringepod

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Rigid fringepod is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the Peninsular Ranges in southwestern desert areas of Riverside, San Diego, and San Bernardino counties, inhabiting oak and pine woodlands and rocky slopes at elevations of 600 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces delicate white to purplish flowers with distinctive fringed siliques. Growing with branched stems up to 30 centimeters tall, the plant spreads from its base with a glabrous appearance. Its leaves are particularly notable, with basal leaves 2 to 5 centimeters long, oblanceolate to elliptic, featuring wavy or pinnately lobed edges in shades of purple, while upper stem leaves become narrower and more linear. The distinctive fruit is 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters wide, often purplish, with a flat or slightly incurved wing that creates an elegant, delicate silhouette.

Habitat: Oak/pine woodland, rocky slopes

Bloom period: Feb-May

Elevation: 600-2200 m

Bioregions: PR, sw D (Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego cos.)

California counties: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside

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