TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information) |
|
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
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 1many 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 80:686699; Rollins 1993 Cruciferae of Continental North America. Stanford Univ Press]
Family description, key to genera by Robert A. Price.CARDAMINE
BITTER-CRESS, TOOTHWORT
Annual, biennial, perennial herb, from taproots, fibrous roots, or tuber-like rhizomes; hairs 0 or simple
Leaves entire or palmately or pinnately lobed to compound; rhizome leaves often present, separate from others
Inflorescence bracted or not
Flower: sepals equal at base; petals white to pink or rose
Fruit linear, generally flat; valves generally opening elastically, sometimes by coiling from base; septum margins intruding on valves
Seeds many, 1 row per chamber, wingless (± margined in C. oligosperma); embryonic root at edges of both cotyledons
Species in genus: ± 170 species: most temp parts of world
Etymology: (Greek: for a cress with medicinal uses)
Native C. bellidifolia L. var. pachyphylla Coville & Leiberg
Perennial, ± cespitose, ± scapose, glabrous; taproot 14 mm thick near top; caudex branches 0many, < 10 cm, rough, leaf bases persistent
Stems several, erect, 212 cm
Leaves simple; basal many, ± rosetted, 13 cm, thick, fleshy, entire or shallowly 13-lobed, blades 530 mm, diamond-shaped-elliptic to ovate, base ± tapered; cauline 0, rarely 12
Inflorescence ± umbel-like, few-flowered
Flower: petals 56 mm, white
Fruit erect, 1535 mm; pedicel ascending, 410(14) mm; style 23 mm, stout
Ecology: Near large rocks, ledges, rocky, moist soils, alpine slopes, volcanic peaks
Elevation: 19002800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Cascade Range
Distribution outside California: Oregon
Horticultural information: TRY.
previous taxon | next taxon
Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Cardamine bellidifolia var. pachyphylla
Retrieve dichotomous key for Cardamine
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California