Descurainia californica, July 25, 2023
Common & scientific name
Sierra tansymustard, Descurainia californica
Family
Mustard, Brassicaceae
Location
Summit, 12,100’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
Almost every wildflower has something fun, weird, or otherwise interesting to say about it. However, when you get into the individual Descurainias, of which we have a handful on the Pass, it gets challenging They’re all a bit gangly, with small yellow cross-shaped flowers and skinny siliques (seed pods). These similarities make them tricky to tell apart. This one happens to identify as D. californica owing to the size, shape, and stature of its siliques and the shape of its leaves. If you want more details, you are a worthy botanist!