About Streptanthus glandulosus Hook.
Streptanthus glandulosus Hook. is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family, commonly called bristly jewelflower. It is native to California and southwestern Oregon, where it grows in a wide range of habitat types including grassland, chaparral, and woodlands. Genetic and other analyses show that this taxon forms a species complex containing ten subspecies, which evolved after populations became isolated from one another. This complex includes subspecies that were previously classified as separate species; one example is the rare Tiburon jewelflower (ssp. niger), which is endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area. Plants within this complex are highly variable. In general, they are annual herbs that grow from 10 centimeters to over 1 meter in height. Individuals may be hairless, hairy, or bristly. The ephemeral basal leaves have blades attached to winged petioles. Leaves positioned higher on the stem are linear to lance-shaped and clasp the stem at their base. Flowers grow at intervals along the upper section of the stem. Each flower has an urn-shaped calyx of sepals that measures from one-half to over one centimeter long, and can be nearly any color ranging from white to yellowish, pink, purple, or nearly black. Purple, white, or purple-veined white petals emerge from the tip of the calyx. The fruit is a straight or curving silique that can reach up to 11 centimeters in length.
