Tropidocarpum gracile
Dobie pod
(c) Roberto Daniel Avila, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Roberto Daniel Avila · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Tropidocarpum gracile (Dobie pod) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by long linear siliques and wide distribution.
Dobie pod is a California native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges, North Coast Interior Ranges, California Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehama, Central Valley, Central Western, southwestern California, and western Mojave Desert in grassy banks, open fields, roadsides, and pastures at elevations below 1,450 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers occasionally tinged with purple, 3 to 6 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 10 to 45 centimeters tall, it spreads across open ground with delicate branching. Its leaves have complex blade structures with 3 to 8 lateral lobes that can be entire or deeply dentate, reaching 2.5 to 10 centimeters in length. The mature plant develops linear silique fruits 3 to 6 centimeters long, containing 30 to 70 small oblong seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by long linear siliques and wide distribution
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Grassy banks, open fields, roadsides, pastures
Elevation: < 1450 m
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Lake, Madera, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Placer, Riverside, San Benito, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Sutter, Sacramento, Glenn, Inyo, Merced, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Mariposa, San Mateo, Tehama, Ventura, Yolo, Solano, Stanislaus, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Mendocino, Calaveras, Butte, Kings, Tuolumne, Amador, Nevada, Imperial, Marin, Sonoma, El Dorado, Alpine
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Tropidocarpum gracile blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Camissoniopsis: Tropidocarpum has 4 petals in cross shape; Camissoniopsis has 4 petals but in evening primrose family with inferior ovary.; vs Sisymbrium: Tropidocarpum has leafy bracts throughout flower cluster; Sisymbrium has naked flower clusters without bracts.; vs Dithyrea: Tropidocarpum has leafy bracts throughout inflorescence; Dithyrea has naked flower clusters and spectacle-shaped fruits.; vs Hornungia: Tropidocarpum has leafy bracts throughout flower cluster; Hornungia has completely naked flower clusters.; vs Physaria: Tropidocarpum has leafy bracts throughout inflorescence; Physaria has naked flower clusters and distinctive silvery woolly appearance.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tropidocarpum gracile native to California?
Yes. Tropidocarpum gracile is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Tropidocarpum gracile bloom?
Tropidocarpum gracile blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Tropidocarpum gracile grow?
Tropidocarpum gracile occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Lake and other counties, at elevations of < 1450 m.
What plant family does Tropidocarpum gracile belong to?
Tropidocarpum gracile is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Tropidocarpum.
What habitat does Tropidocarpum gracile grow in?
Tropidocarpum gracile grows in Common. Grassy banks, open fields, roadsides, pastures.
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.