TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information) |
|
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual to subshrub
Leaves generally basal and cauline, alternate, generally simple; stipules 0
Inflorescence: generally raceme
Flower bisexual; sepals 4, free; petals (0)4, free, generally white or yellow, often clawed; stamens generally (2,4)6, generally 4 long, 2 short; ovary 1, superior, chambers generally 2, septum membranous, connecting 2 parietal placentas, style 1, stigma simple or 2-lobed
Fruit: generally capsule ("silique") with 2 deciduous valves, sometimes breaking transversely or indehiscent
Seeds 1many per chamber
Genera in family: 300+ genera, 3000+ species: worldwide, especially cool regions; some cultivated for food (especially Brassica, Raphanus ) and ornamental
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Capparaceae [Rodman et al. 1993 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 80:686699; Rollins 1993 Cruciferae of Continental North America. Stanford Univ Press]
Family description, key to genera by Robert A. Price.ARABIDOPSIS
Annual, perennial herb
Stems 1few, branched or not, slender
Leaves: basal in rosette, petioled; cauline sessile, base tapered or lobed, clasping stem or not
Inflorescence terminal, open
Flower small; sepal bases not sac-like; petals white, pale purple, or yellowish
Fruit linear, glabrous; pedicel ascending; style short or 0
Seeds many, ± 1 row per chamber, plump; wing 0; embryonic root at back of 1 cotyledon
Species in genus: Few but controversial number of species: Eur, Asia, 1 native to North America
Etymology: (Greek: resembling Arabis )
Introduced A. thaliana (L.) Heynh.
MOUSE-EAR CRESS, THALE CRESS
Annual, freely branched
Stem 14 dm; hairs below simple, spreading, above 0
Leaves: basal oblanceolate, entire or minutely dentate, hairs coarse, branched; cauline few, base tapered
Flower: petals white
Fruit 11.5 cm, < 1 mm wide, linear, ± cylindric to ± flat; pedicel erect to ascending, 510 mm, slender
Seed < 1 mm, oblong
Chromosomes: 2n=10
Ecology: Uncommon. Disturbed, open ground
Elevation: < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Inner North Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, expected elsewhere
Distribution outside California: to e US (where abundant); native to Europe
Often used in experimental genetics, physiology, biochemistry.
previous taxon | next taxon
Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Arabidopsis thaliana
Retrieve dichotomous key for Arabidopsis
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California