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Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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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.

STREPTANTHUS

JEWELFLOWER

Roy E. Buck, Dean W. Taylor, and Arthur R. Kruckeberg

Annual to perennial herb, glabrous to bristly, generally ± glaucous
Leaves ± entire to pinnately compound; basal generally rosetted, generally ± petioled; cauline linear to (ob)ovate, often clasping
Inflorescence generally ± open; bracts generally 0
Flower biradial or bilateral; calyx generally ± urn-shaped, sepals erect, generally not green, bases ± pouch-like, generally keeled; petals generally exserted, blade generally narrower than claw, ± channeled, margins ± wavy, generally ± scarious; stamens generally in 3 free pairs; style 0 or short, stigma generally ± entire, blunt
Fruit long, generally strongly compressed parallel to septum
Seeds generally compressed, generally ± winged
Species in genus: ± 40 species: sw US, n Mex
Etymology: (Greek: twisted flower, from wavy-margined petals)
Reference: [Dolan & LaPré 1989 Madroño 36:33–40; Kruckeberg & Morrison 1983 Madroño 30:230–244]
Caulanthus sometimes including here. Calluses on leaf margins of some mimic pierid butterfly eggs, reducing larval herbivory. Variable, complex; needs study.

Native

S. gracilis Eastw.

ALPINE JEWELFLOWER

Annual 5–30 cm, few-branched
Leaves: basal oblong to obovate, coarsely toothed to lobed, petiole = blade; cauline narrowly oblong to obovate, entire to lobed, lower petioled
Inflorescence: bracts 1–2, entire, sessile
Flower: sepals 4–5 mm, purple, tips spreading; petals exserted, spreading, 7–10 mm, pink; filaments free
Fruit ascending, 3–7 cm, straight to slightly curved, slender
Seed: wing 0 or small
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Rocky slopes
Elevation: 2800–3500 m.
Bioregional distribution: se High Sierra Nevada (Kings-Kern Divide region).

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