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Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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BRASSICACEAE

MUSTARD FAMILY

Reed C. Rollins, except as specified

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 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.

ERYSIMUM

WALLFLOWER

Robert A. Price

Annual to subshrub; hairs appressed, forked to many-branched
Leaves in basal rosettes and cauline, simple, entire to lobed
Flower: petals clawed, generally cream to orange; stigma 2-lobed
Fruit narrow, round, 4-sided, or ± flattened (generally parallel to septum); style 0.2–5 mm
Seeds 1–2 rows per chamber, 1–4 mm, often ± winged
Species in genus: 160+ species: temp n hemisphere, especially Eurasia
Etymology: (Greek: to help, from medicinal uses)
Reference: [Rossbach 1958 Madroño 14:261–267]
Incl Cheiranthus ; native CA taxa all related to E. capitatum.

Native

E. menziesii (Hook.) Wettst.

Biennial or short-lived perennial herb
Stems 1–several, 1–15(30) cm, generally little-branched
Leaves generally in dense rosette, generally fleshy; hairs 2–several-branched; lower leaves 2–11 cm, ± spoon-shaped, entire to lobed
Flower: petals 14–32 mm, generally yellow
Fruit (especially lower) generally stiffly spreading, 3–14 cm, 1.5–5 mm wide, slightly to very fleshy and round when immature, flattened when dry; style 0.5–3 mm
Seed 1.7–4 mm, 1–3 mm wide
Chromosomes: n=18
Ecology: Coastal foredunes, headlands, cliffs
Elevation: 0–300 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Central Coast
Distribution outside California: to s Oregon

Native

subsp. menziesii

MENZIES' WALLFLOWER

Fls generally winter, spring
Leaf generally lobed or irregularly toothed, fleshy
Flower: petals rich yellow
Fruit generally 3–8 cm, 2–4 mm wide; pedicel 3–9(13) mm
Ecology: Foredunes
Elevation: 0–300 m.
Bioregional distribution: c North Coast (near Fort Bragg, Mendocino Co.), c Central Coast (Monterey Bay Area, s of Point Pinos).Endangered by habitat loss
Horticultural information: In cultivation.

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