Purple Bladderpod (Lesquerella purpurea)

Family Brassicaceae

The flowers of this plant appear in early spring from January and on to May. Photographs here are from March 2005. The flowers are primarily white, lightly streaked with purple, but they fade to a more purplish color (shown below). The flowers form a loose cluster, and are followed by a globular fruit on a 1/2" long stem, as shown below left. The leaves, shown below right, are lanceolate, hairy, and very slightly toothed. [Descriptions from Epple, cited on Wildflowers page, p. 80] Click on each image to enlarge it.

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When mature (below), bladderpods and stems have a definite purplish cast, which may contribute to the source of the name: