Erysimum menziesii is a mustardlike biennial or perennial herb which is short in size, reaching maximum heights of usually not more than 15 centimeters. The leaves are long and straight along the stem, and often thicker, hairier, and lobed in shape at the base. The top of the stem is occupied by a thick bunch of flowers with bright yellow, rounded petals. The flowers fall away to leave behind the fruits, which are very long
siliques sticking straight out. The plant can vary in appearance, particularly across subspecies. At least one subspecies is
pollinated by the similarly distressed
bee Emphoropsis miserabilis. The plant has high
fecundity, but very low
seedling survivorship, with over 98% of seedlings perishing within the first year. It grows with other beach species such as
beach sagewort (
Artemisia pycnocephala),
coast buckwheat (
Eriogonum latifolium), (
sand verbena (
Abronia latifolia), and (
beach pea (
Lathyrus littoralis). It occurs within the
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Some of its habitat is on beaches owned by the city of
Eureka, California, and by private entities. It grows in bare beach sand which is often wet from the tides and seaspray, and can be battered by storms. Other plants in the area include
evening primrose (
Camissonia cheiranthifolia),
beach bur (
Ambrosia chamissonis),
sea rocket (
Cakile maritima), and
beach knotweed (
Polygonum paronychia). The northern population is mostly within
MacKerricher State Park and the southern occurs on
Asilomar State Beach and a few nearby dunes. Some of have been destroyed by
mining operations and other factors. Some plants occur at
Marina State Beach, including some individuals which have been
propagated and planted in appropriate habitat. This subspecies was revised from
Erysimum concinnum to a subspecies of
E. menziesii after the 1992 listing, so it was not included under the
Endangered Species Act. ==Conservation==