Taxon Report

Erysimum capitatum (Douglas) Greene var. angustatum (Greene) Rossbach

Contra Costa wallflower

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Erysimum capitatum var. angustatum, commonly known as Contra Costa wallflower, is a perennial herb in the Brassicaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Inland dunes, growing at elevations from 3 to 20 meters. Erysimum capitatum var. angustatum is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Erysimum capitatum (Douglas) Greene var. angustatum (Greene) Rossbach
Common Name:	Contra Costa wallflower
Family:	Brassicaceae
Element Code:	PDBRA16052
USDA Plants Symbol:	ERCAA
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Jul	Mar-Jul
Elevation:	3-20 (10-65)
General Habitats:	Inland dunes
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G5T1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	CE
Fed List:	FE
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	4
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	3
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	1

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Contra Costa (CCA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Antioch North (3812117), Honker Bay (3812118), Jersey Island (3812116)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	4
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	3	75 %
Development	2	50%
Non-native plant impacts	2	50%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	50%
Disking	1	25%

Notes



Known only from the Antioch Dunes. Seriously threatened by mining, agricultural conversion, non-native plants, and industrial development. Recovery work in progress. See Pittonia 3:132 (1896) for original description, Aliso 4(1):115-124 (1958) for taxonomic treatment, and Biological Conservation 65:257-278 (1993) for population biology.
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 November 2025].