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.
DRABA
Robert A. Price
Annual to perennial herb, often cushion- or mat-forming; hairs often branched
Leaves basal and sometimes cauline, entire or shallowly toothed
Flower: sepal bases equal; petals < 10 mm, yellow or white, claw and limb generally distinct
Fruit < 30 mm, generally lanceolate to ovate, generally flat parallel to septum, less often partially inflated, sometimes twisted or wavy
Seeds: 2 rows per chamber; wing generally 0
Species in genus: 350+ species: n hemisphere, mtns of South America
Etymology: (Greek: acrid)
Reference: [Rollins & Price 1988 Aliso 12:17–27]
| Native |
D. cuneifolia Torr. & A. Gray
Annual
Stems 1–few from base, < 40 cm; hairs short, simple and branched, often stellate, rarely 0
Leaves generally dentate; basal 5–70 mm, oblanceolate to obovate, surface hairs stellate; cauline 1–4
Inflorescence < 75-flowered; axes generally hairy; lowest pedicel < 2 X fruit
Flower: petals < 5 mm, often smaller or 0 in lateral inflorescences, divided < 1/8 to base, white
Fruits often loosely clustered, 3–12 mm, lanceolate to oblong; hairs 0 or simple, forked, and cross-shaped; style < 0.2 mm
Seeds < 100, 0.5–0.7 mm; wings 0
Chromosomes: 2n=16,32
Ecology: Open or disturbed places
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, Southwestern California, White and Inyo Mountains, Desert
Distribution outside California: w US, n Mexico
Flowering time: May
Varieties cuneifolia, integrifolia S. Watson, sonorae (Greene) Parish recognized by Hartman et al. [1976 Brittonia 27:317–327] but ± intergrade in CA.
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