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.
STREPTANTHUS
JEWELFLOWER
Roy E. Buck, Dean W. Taylor, and Arthur R. Kruckeberg
Annual to perennial herb, glabrous to bristly, generally ± glaucous
Leaves ± entire to pinnately compound; basal generally rosetted, generally ± petioled; cauline linear to (ob)ovate, often clasping
Inflorescence generally ± open; bracts generally 0
Flower biradial or bilateral; calyx generally ± urn-shaped, sepals erect, generally not green, bases ± pouch-like, generally keeled; petals generally exserted, blade generally narrower than claw, ± channeled, margins ± wavy, generally ± scarious; stamens generally in 3 free pairs; style 0 or short, stigma generally ± entire, blunt
Fruit long, generally strongly compressed parallel to septum
Seeds generally compressed, generally ± winged
Species in genus: ± 40 species: sw US, n Mex
Etymology: (Greek: twisted flower, from wavy-margined petals)
Reference: [Dolan & LaPré 1989 Madroño 36:33–40; Kruckeberg & Morrison 1983 Madroño 30:230–244]
Caulanthus sometimes including here. Calluses on leaf margins of some mimic pierid butterfly eggs, reducing larval herbivory. Variable, complex; needs study.
| Native |
S. insignis Jeps.
SAN BENITO JEWELFLOWER
Annual < 6 dm, generally branched above, bristly (especially below)
Leaves < 12 cm; basal ± oblanceolate, coarsely dentate to lobed, short-petioled; lower cauline sometimes ± clasping; middle and upper cauline ± lanceolate, dentate to lobed, ± clasping
Inflorescence: terminal sterile flowers present except in early flower
Flower: sepals generally ± bristly, fertile 3–7 mm, sterile narrow, elongated; petals 6–10 mm; longest filament pair fused, recurved, with anthers ± reduced and sterile, fertile filaments free; stigma ± 2-lobed
Fruit reflexed to erect, 3–11 cm, generally ± straight
Chromosomes: 2n=28
Ecology: Dry grassland or open chaparral, generally on serpentine
Elevation: 200–1400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Inner South Coast Ranges.
| Native |
subsp. lyonii Kruckeb. & J.L. Morrison
ARBURUA RANCH JEWELFLOWER
Flower: sepals greenish yellow; petals ± yellowish
Ecology: Serpentine, generally grassland
Elevation: 500–600 m.
Bioregional distribution: Inner South Coast Ranges (near Ortigalita Peak, w Merced Co.).
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