TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

CAPPARACEAE

CAPER FAMILY

Staria S. Vanderpool

Annual, shrub, tree, ill-smelling
Leaves generally 1-palmate, generally alternate, generally petioled; stipules generally minute, often bristle-like or hairy; leaflets 3–7
Inflorescence: raceme, head, or flowers solitary, generally longer in fruit; bracts generally 3-parted below, simple above, or 0
Flower generally bisexual, radial to ± bilateral; sepals generally 4, free or fused, generally persistent; petals generally 4, free, ± clawed; stamens generally 6, free, exserted, anthers generally coiling at dehiscence; ovary superior, generally on stalk-like receptacle, chamber generally 1, placentas generally 2, parietal, style 1, persistent, stigma generally minute, ± head-like
Fruit: generally capsule, septicidal; valves generally 2, deciduous, leaving septum (frame-like placentas) behind; pedicel generally ± reflexed to spreading
Genera in family: 45 genera, 800 species: widespread tropical to arid temp; some cultivated (Capparis spinosa , caper bush)
Reference: [Ernst 1963 J Arnold Arbor 44:81–93]
CA members placed in subfamily Cleomoideae. Alternate family name: Capparidaceae.

CLEOMELLA

Annual, generally glabrous
Stem generally ascending to erect, generally branched from base, often red-tinged
Leaves generally many; petiole generally 7–20 mm; leaflets generally 3
Inflorescence: raceme, ± terminal; flowers solitary in leaf axils, or both; pedicel generally 4–25 mm
Flower radial to bilateral; parts generally yellow; sepals fused in basal third, generally entire; petals ± sessile, upper 2 often recurved
Fruit: capsule, often wider than long; septum elliptic to round; receptacle stalk-like
Seeds < 10
Species in genus: ± 10 species: arid w North America
Etymology: (Diminutive of Cleome)
Reference: [Payson 1922 Univ Wyoming Publ Sci Bot 1:29–46]
C. hillmanii Nelson, known from near Reno, NV; may be found in adjacent CA.

Native

C. obtusifolia Torr. & Frémont

MOJAVE STINKWEED

Plant hairy
Stem 1–9 dm, rough; younger ascending to erect; older prostrate, forming circular mat < 9 dm wide
Leaf: leaflets 5–15 mm, obovate
Inflorescence: raceme on older stems, 1–10 cm, terminal, dense, on younger stems flowers solitary in leaf axils
Flower: sepals 1–1.5 mm, ovate, green, hairy, margin with long hairs; petals 4–6(9) mm, dark yellow, lower surface hairy; stamens 8–14 mm, anthers 1.5–2.3 mm; style 1.5–5 mm
Fruit 3–4 mm, hairy, striate; valves conic to horn-shaped; receptacle 6–8 mm, reflexed
Ecology: Desert scrub, sandy, rocky alkaline flats
Elevation: 300–1200(2000) m.
Bioregional distribution: East of Sierra Nevada, Desert
Distribution outside California: w Nevada
Flowering time: Apr–Oct
Synonyms: C. o. var. pubescens Nelson
Variable; deserves additional study.