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.
THYSANOCARPUS
LACEPOD, FRINGEPOD
Annual; hairs 0 or simple
Stem erect to ascending, slender; branches 0–many
Leaves simple, sessile, entire, dentate, or pinnately lobed
Inflorescence elongate; bracts 0
Flower: sepals ascending, bases not sac-like; petals white or purple; stamens 6, ± equal, ± exserted
Fruit generally elliptic to round, very flat, 1-chambered (septum 0), indehiscent; wing entire to lobed, often perforated; rays 0 to very distinct; pedicel very slender
Seed 1, smooth; embryonic root at edges of both cotyledons
Species in genus: 5 species: North America
Etymology: (Greek: fringe fruit)
| Native |
T. conchuliferus Greene
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND FRINGEPOD
Plant delicate, glabrous, glaucous
Stem (4)6–15(20) cm, generally branched
Leaves sessile, clasping stem, 1–4 cm, linear to lanceolate, dentate to pinnately lobed
Inflorescence dense, many-flowered
Flower: sepals purplish to whitish; petals 2–2.5 mm, spoon-shaped
Fruit ± elliptic, hairy or not; wing strongly curved to flat or concave side, entire to lobed, perforated or not; rays 0 or ± indistinct; pedicel ± ascending to ± reflexed, 4–8 mm, curved to straight, hairs long-pointed or short-club-shaped; style ± 1 mm, included in deep sinus
Ecology: Open, dry slopes
Elevation: < 500 m.
Bioregional distribution: n Channel Islands (Santa Cruz Island)
Synonyms: T. laciniatus var. c. (Greene) Jeps
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