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.
CAULANTHUS
JEWELFLOWER
Roy E. Buck
Annual to perennial herb, generally tapered-hairy on leaves and lower stem
Stem generally ascending to erect, ± glaucous
Leaves ± entire to deeply cut; basal generally rosetted, withering, generally oblanceolate to obovate; cauline generally linear to obovate, clasping, reduced
Inflorescence becoming more open; bracts generally 0
Flower biradial to ± bilateral; calyx ± urn-shaped, sepals often ± pouched below, generally not green, generally not darker in bud, generally erect after flower; petal (and sepal) margins often scarious, wavy or not; filaments generally in 3 pairs, generally free (or longest 1–2 pairs ± fused below); style < 4 mm, stigma generally 2-lobed
Fruit ascending to reflexed, generally cylindric
Seed generally ± oblong, generally compressed, generally ± brown
Species in genus: ± 14 species: ± sw North America
Etymology: (Greek: stem flower, from use of some as cauliflower-like vegetable)
| Native |
C. major (M.E. Jones) Payson
Perennial from woody caudex, ± glabrous
Stem erect, generally not inflated, hollow, sometimes branched
Leaves: rosette persistent; basal and lower cauline blades 1–9 cm, oblanceolate or elliptic, entire to deeply cut, tapered to long petiole; upper leaves much reduced, ± linear, entire
Flower: sepals sometimes sparsely hairy at tips; petals 9–16 mm, darker on veins, margins scarious, not wavy; style < 0.5 mm, stigma lobes < 0.5 mm
Fruit erect to ascending, 4–13 cm
Ecology: Dryish, often rocky slopes, sometimes in shade
Elevation: 1500–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: n High Sierra Nevada (Alpine Co.), San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, s Modoc Plateau, e Desert Mountains (Providence, New York mtns)
Distribution outside California: se Oregon, n&w Nevada, also in e Utah
Possibly not distinct from C. crassicaulis.
| Native |
var. major
Stem generally ± stout
Inflorescence: pedicel generally glabrous (rarely bristly)
Flower: sepals 8–10 mm, pouched below, greenish white or cream; petals brownish
Ecology: Habitats and elevations of sp
Elevation: 1500–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, eastern Desert Mountains (Providence, New York mtns)
Distribution outside California: eastern Utah
Flowering time: May–Jul
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