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.RORIPPA
YELLOW or WATER CRESS
Annual, biennial, perennial herb; hairs simple, rarely sac-like
Stems 1many, prostrate to erect, branched or not, often from center of basal rosette, rooting at nodes or not
Leaves: basal, lower cauline sessile or short-petioled, entire to pinnately compound; cauline reduced upward
Inflorescence terminal and lateral
Flower generally small; petals 0 or obovate to narrowly spoon-shaped, pale to bright yellow or white
Fruit linear to round, plump; valves 2 or 4(6); pedicel ascending to recurved, slender, generally with 2 minute glands at base; style 0 or prominent, persistent
Seeds 10200, (1)2 rows per chamber, dense, generally plump; wing 0; embryonic root at edges of both cotyledons
Species in genus: ± 75 species: worldwide
Etymology: (Old Saxon: for these, perhaps other crucifers)
Reference: [Stuckey 1972 Sida 4:277340]
Introduced R. austriaca (Crantz) Besser
AUSTRIAN FIELD-CRESS
Perennial
Stem ascending to ± erect, 410 dm, branched above; hairs below, minute
Leaves glabrous, dull blue-green; cauline sessile, clasping stem, 310 cm, linear-oblong to oblanceolate, entire to dentate
Flower: sepals 22.5 mm; petals 35 mm, yellow
Fruit ± 3 mm, 2.43 mm wide, round-ovate; pedicels slender, spreading to ascending, lower 715 mm; style 12 mm
Seed generally 0, 0.70.9 mm, reddish brown, finely papillate
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Disturbed or cultivated areas, roadsides, mud flats
Elevation: 12002000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: to Canada, e US; native to Europe
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