Fringepod, Sand Fringepod, Hairy Fringepod, Lacepod: Thysanocarpus curvipes (Synonyms: Thysanocarpus curvipes ssp. curvipes, Thysanocarpus curvipes var. curvipes, Thysanocarpus curvipes var. elegans, Thysanocarpus curvipes var. longistylus)

The photo at left shows the interesting seed pods of fringepod as seen along the Horsethief Butte Trail several miles northeast of The Dalles, OR..............April 24, 2006. The photo at right shows the fruiting inflorescence of fringepod as seen around the Dalles Mountain Ranch at Columbia Hills Historical State Park......April 22, 2022.

Fringe pod is a interesting annual with distinctive seed capsules as seen above. Its stems are simple to branched, with the stems arising from 15-80 cm high. It is somewhat stiffly haired below, and smooth above. The basal leaves are usually deciduous by bloom time. They are oblanceolate in shape, from 1.5-5 cm in length. The stem leaves are smaller, becoming oblong or narrowly lanceolate.

The 4 sepals are about 1 mm long, with purple coloration and white margins. The 4 narrow petals are white or purplish, and are about as long as the sepals. The unique silicles are orbicular, oval, elliptic, or obovate, bordered with a wide, radiately nerved wing.

Fringe pod is found east of the Cascade Mts from British Columbia south to California, and east to Idaho.

In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found between the elevations of 100'-3000' from near the mouth of the Wind River and eastward past Biggs, OR.

The photo above shows the outline of a mid-stem leaf of fringe pod. Note the spreading hairs along the margin and "auriculate" base to the leaf. Note also the presence of several minute, triangular teeth along the margin of the blade.

The photo above shows the basal leaves and lower stem leaves of a very young fringe pod that has just begun to bloom. Note the broad, triangular teeth along the margins of the lower blades and the numerous spreading hairs of the lower stem. Photographed along the Dalles Mt. Road near 1550'...........March 6, 2006.

The photo at left shows fringepod fruits along trails at the Deschutes River State Recreation Area......April 6, 2024. Lacepods with their attractive fruits as seen at center on the grounds of The Dalles Discovery Center........April 5, 2016. The photo at right shows the fruits of lacepod forming on a plant seen along the east bank of the Deschutes River, Deschutes River State Recreation Area.........March 31, 2017.

The photo at left shows the lower to upper stem and inflorescence of fringe pod as seen on basalt cliffs above Doug's Beach, WA State Road #14, MP 79...........March 11, 2006. Note that the lower leaves begin to whither and dry up as the plant begins to flower. The photo at center shows fringe pods in bloom as seen along the Memaloose Trail east of Mosier, OR.......March 20, 2018. The photo at rights shows fringepod atop Millc Creek Ridge, Wasco County, OR......March 17, 2020.