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.
TROPIDOCARPUM
Annual; hairs generally simple, spreading or reflexed
Stem prostrate to ± erect, branched
Leaves deeply pinnately lobed; segments linear to oblong, entire to dentate; basal ± present, not rosetted
Inflorescence open; bract leaf-like
Flower < 6 mm; sepals generally spreading, ± 3 mm, ovate-oblong, bases not sac-like; petals obovate to spoon-shaped, yellow or yellowish, purplish-tinged or not; stamens 4 long, 2 short; style slender, stigma obscurely lobed
Fruit linear to oblong, flat perpendicular to narrow septum (or septum ± 0); valves 2 or 4; hairs reflexed
Seeds 1 or 4 rows per chamber, oblong, compressed, brown; wing 0; embryonic root at back of 1 cotyledon
Species in genus: 2 species: CA, Baja CA
Etymology: (Greek: keeled fruit)
| Native |
T. capparideum Greene
CAPER-FRUITED TROPIDOCARPUM
Stem ± erect, 1, 2–5 dm, few-branched above
Leaf 2–5 cm
Flower: sepals yellowish, hairs sparse; petals 4–5 mm, obovate to spoon-shaped, yellow, purplish tinged or not
Fruit: pedicels spreading to ascending, straight to slightly upcurved, lower 1.5–2 cm; valves not or ± keeled; hairs ± 0 to few; style 1–2.6 mm
Extinction status: PRESUMED EXTINCT
Ecology: Alkaline soils, low hills, valleys
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: nw San Joaquin Valley (near Mount Diablo).Last seen 1957.
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