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.
TROPIDOCARPUM
Annual; hairs generally simple, spreading or reflexed
Stem prostrate to ± erect, branched
Leaves deeply pinnately lobed; segments linear to oblong, entire to dentate; basal ± present, not rosetted
Inflorescence open; bract leaf-like
Flower < 6 mm; sepals generally spreading, ± 3 mm, ovate-oblong, bases not sac-like; petals obovate to spoon-shaped, yellow or yellowish, purplish-tinged or not; stamens 4 long, 2 short; style slender, stigma obscurely lobed
Fruit linear to oblong, flat perpendicular to narrow septum (or septum ± 0); valves 2 or 4; hairs reflexed
Seeds 1 or 4 rows per chamber, oblong, compressed, brown; wing 0; embryonic root at back of 1 cotyledon
Species in genus: 2 species: CA, Baja CA
Etymology: (Greek: keeled fruit)
| Native |
T. gracile Hook.
Stems prostrate to decumbent, several, 1–5 dm, branched below, above
Leaf 1–5 cm
Flower: sepals greenish yellow or purplish; petals ± 4 mm, obovate, yellow, purplish tinged or not
Fruit: pedicels ascending to ± erect, generally straight, lower 1–1.5 cm; valves keeled; hairs ± 0–few; style 0.5–3 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Common. Grassy banks, open fields, roadsides, pastures
Elevation: < 1150 m.
Bioregional distribution: Inner North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range Foothills, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi Mountain Area, Great Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, Inner South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California, w Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Flowering time: Mar–May
Synonyms: var. dubium (Davidson) Jeps
previous taxon | next taxon
Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Tropidocarpum gracile
Retrieve dichotomous key for Tropidocarpum
Return to treatment index page
Glossary