Taxon Report

Thysanocarpus conchuliferus Greene

Santa Cruz Island fringepod

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Thysanocarpus conchuliferus, commonly known as Santa Cruz Island fringepod, is a annual herb in the Brassicaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, and Cismontane woodland, growing at elevations from 45 to 655 meters. Thysanocarpus conchuliferus is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Thysanocarpus conchuliferus Greene
Common Name:	Santa Cruz Island fringepod
Family:	Brassicaceae
Element Code:	PDBRA2Q060
USDA Plants Symbol:	THCO9
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Apr(May)	Mar-Apr(May)
Elevation:	45-655 (150-2150)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Cismontane woodland
Microhabitat:	Rocky
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G2?
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	FE
Other Status:	SB_SBBG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	15
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	2
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	13

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Santa Barbara (SBA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Santa Cruz Island B (3311986), Santa Cruz Island C (3311985)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	%

Notes



Known from fewer than fifteen occurrences; no plants present in 1993 or 1994 surveys, and only one known extant occurrence in 1995. Threatened by grazing, feral herbivores, and non-native plants.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 5 December 2025].