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.
MALCOLMIA
Annual, perennial herb; hairs simple or generally branched
Stem prostrate to erect, generally branched
Leaf simple to 2-pinnate
Inflorescence bracted or not
Flower: sepals erect, inner pair generally sac-like at base; petals prominently clawed, reddish or purple, rarely white
Fruit linear, sessile above receptacle, dehiscent; style tapered or 0; stigma lobes decurrent, generally fused
Seeds many, 1 row per chamber; margins 0
Species in genus: ± 35 species: s Eurasia, n Africa
Etymology: (W. Malcolm, London nurseryman, 1769–1820)
| Introduced |
M. africana R. Br.
Annual, often ± prostrate, stiff; branches many
Stem 1.5–5 dm; hairs dense, small
Leaves simple; lower 3–6 cm, oblanceolate, sparsely dentate, petioled; upper reduced, graduated to bracts
Flower: petals 6–9 mm, rose-violet to pink
Fruit ascending, 4–6 cm, 1–1.5 mm wide, cylindric to ± 4-sided, ± narrowed between seeds; pedicel 1–2 mm; style 0, stigma lobes pointed
Chromosomes: 2n=28
Ecology: Disturbed areas, desert scrub
Elevation: 1250–2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: East of Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: to Rocky Mtns; native to Mediterranean
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