Mountain Jewel Flower

Description:

Streptanthus tortuosus is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names shieldleaf and shieldplant. Flowers occur at intervals along the upper stem, and there is usually a leaflike bract below them. Each flower has an urn-shaped calyx of sepals in shades of purple or greenish yellow with four petals emerging from the tip.

Habitat:

It is native to the mountains of northern and central California, its distribution extending just into Oregon and Nevada. It grows in rocky and sandy areas in forests and woodland habitat.