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.
GUILLENIA
Roy E. Buck
Annual, glabrous to ± hairy below
Stem often hollow, ± glaucous
Leaves: basal rosetted, often withering in flower, generally ± oblanceolate, entire to deeply cut, petioles < blades; upper leaves reduced
Inflorescence longer in fruit; bracts generally 0
Flower: sepals pouched at base or not, greenish or not; petals ± linear to obovate; anthers coiled or ± curved when open; style generally ± tapered, stigma small, entire or shallowly 2-lobed
Fruit ascending to reflexed, ± cylindric; stalk-like base < 1 mm, = body width
Seed ± oblong, brownish or yellowish; wing 0
Species in genus: 3 species: w North America
Etymology: (Father C. Guillen, Jesuit missionary, Mexico, born 1677)
| Native |
G. lasiophylla (Hook. & Arn.) Greene
CALIFORNIA MUSTARD
Leaves: lower blades < 22 cm, lanceolate to ± oblong, entire to cut; lower cauline generally > basal; uppermost leaves ± subsessile
Inflorescence: pedicel in fruit 0.5–4 mm
Flower: parts ± erect; sepals 1.5–4 mm, not pouched at base, greenish (pinkish), narrowly scarious-margined; petals 3–6 mm, ± oblanceolate, generally white or pale yellow (pinkish), blade not channeled, not wavy-margined, narrowed to claw; style 0.1–2.4 mm
Fruit generally reflexed, 1–7 cm, straight or outcurved
Seed ± 1 mm, yellowish or brownish
Chromosomes: n=14
Ecology: Common. Dry, open, sometimes disturbed areas
Elevation: < 2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: California (except Modoc Plateau)
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Utah, nw Mexico
Flowering time: Mar–Jun
Synonyms: Thelypodium l. (Hook. & Arn.) Greene including vars. inalienum B.L. Rob., rigidum (Greene) B.L. Rob., and utahense (Rydb.) Jeps
Highly variable; needs study.
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