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BRASSICACEAE

MUSTARD FAMILY

Reed C. Rollins, except as specified

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 1–many 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 80:686–699; Rollins 1993 Cruciferae of Continental North America. Stanford Univ Press]
Family description, key to genera by Robert A. Price.

ERYSIMUM

WALLFLOWER

Robert A. Price

Annual to subshrub; hairs appressed, forked to many-branched
Leaves in basal rosettes and cauline, simple, entire to lobed
Flower: petals clawed, generally cream to orange; stigma 2-lobed
Fruit narrow, round, 4-sided, or ± flattened (generally parallel to septum); style 0.2–5 mm
Seeds 1–2 rows per chamber, 1–4 mm, often ± winged
Species in genus: 160+ species: temp n hemisphere, especially Eurasia
Etymology: (Greek: to help, from medicinal uses)
Reference: [Rossbach 1958 Madroño 14:261–267]
Incl Cheiranthus ; native CA taxa all related to E. capitatum.

Introduced

E. cheiranthoides L.

WORMSEED MUSTARD

Annual (biennial)
Stem 5–100 cm
Leaves: basal ± 2–10 cm, oblong-lanceolate, entire to shallowly toothed; hairs generally 3(2–4)-branched
Flower: petals 2–6 mm, light yellow
Fruit ascending, generally 1–4 cm, 1–1.5 mm wide, ± round; pedicel 1/3–1/2 fruit length, < fruit width; style 0.3–1 mm
Seed 0.8–1.3 mm, 0.5–0.7 mm wide; wing 0
Chromosomes: n=8
Ecology: Uncommon. Disturbed areas
Elevation: 0–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Sierra Nevada, Great Central Valley, expected elsewhere
Distribution outside California: to e N.America, circumboreal; native to Eurasia, possibly w N.America

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bioregional map for ERYSIMUM%20cheiranthoides being generated
 


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