TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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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 1many 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 80:686699; Rollins 1993 Cruciferae of Continental North America. Stanford Univ Press]
Family description, key to genera by Robert A. Price.ERUCASTRUM
Annual to rarely subshrub; hairs simple, rarely 0
Leaves: basal petioled, entire or generally deeply pinnately lobed to compound; cauline ± as basal, generally simpler, upper generally sessile, ± clasping stem or not
Flower: sepals erect, linear to oblong, bases not sac-like; petals generally obovate, yellowish or white
Fruit linear, ± 4-sided, ± narrowed between seeds, sessile or short-stalked above receptacle, beaked, hairy or not
Seeds 1 row per chamber, oblong to ovate, plump; wing 0; cotyledons doubly folded
Species in genus: ± 18 species: especially Africa
Etymology: (Latin: ± resembling Eruca )
Introduced E. gallicum (Willd.) O.E. Schulz
Annual, biennial; hairs stiff, recurved
Stem simple to much-branched, 1.58 dm
Leaf deeply pinnately lobed, 320 cm; margins often wavy
Inflorescence open; bracts subtending each flower, lower leaf-like
Flower: petals 47 mm, pale yellow
Fruit 14.5 cm; pedicel ascending, < 1 cm, slender; valves strongly 1-veined; style 1.53 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=30
Ecology: Disturbed areas, roadsides
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: s San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: e US; native to Eurasia
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