Key to Draba

View taxon page for Draba

(For a list of species in Draba, use the above link.)

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Annual or biennial

2. Petals deeply 2-lobed; inflorescence axis generally wavy in fruit ..... D. verna

2' Petals not divided; inflorescence axis straight in fruit

3. Style (0.8)1–3.5 mm ..... D. corrugata (2)

3' Style <= 0.4 mm

4. Inflorescence umbel-like in fruit ..... [D. reptans]

4' Inflorescence elongated to ± congested, not umbel-like in fruit

5. Inflorescence axis glabrous

6. Cauline leaves (0)1–5; 

pedicels 

Stalk of an individual flower in an inflorescence, or the corresponding structure in fruit.

3–14 mm, <= fruit ..... D. albertina (2)

6' Cauline leaves 4–12(15); pedicels 7–28(35) mm, > fruit ..... [D. nemorosa]

5' Inflorescence axis hairy

7. Basal leaves not rosetted, late-season flowers without petals; seeds 0.5–0.7 mm, ovoid ..... D. cuneifolia

7' Basal leaves rosetted, late-season flowers with petals; seeds 0.8–1.1 mm, 

oblong 

Longer than wide, with nearly parallel sides; wider than linear.

..... D. praealta (2)

1' Perennial herb

8. Basal leaves abaxially glabrous (leaf margins hairy)

9. Style (1)1.6–3 mm

10. Fruit glabrous; seed 3–4.5 mm wide, round, winged ..... D. carnosula

10' Fruit hairy; seed 1–1.6 mm, oblong, wingless ..... D. howellii

9' Style 0.1–0.8 mm

11. Plant cushion-forming; 

leaf 

Organ arising from a stem, generally composed of a stalk (petiole) and a flat, expanded, green, photosynthetic area (blade); distinguished from a leaflet by the presence in its axil of a bud, branch, thorn, or flower; sometimes with lateral, basal appendages (stipules); either simple (toothed, lobed, or dissected but not divided into leaflets) or compound (divided into leaflets).

midvein prominent ..... D. densifolia (2)

11' Pl. not cushion-forming; leaf midvein obscure

12. Pedicel base not 

decurrent 

Pertaining to a wing-like or ridge-like extension basal to the apparent or actual point of attachment, particularly a leaf base that appears to continue onto the stem.

; fruit 1.5–3 mm wide, narrowly 

lanceolate 

Narrowly elongate, widest in the basal half, often tapered to an acute tip.

..... D. cruciata

12' Pedicel base decurrent; fruit 2.2–4.5 mm wide, 

ovate 

Egg-shaped (i.e., widest below the middle) in two dimensions (i.e., in one plane), as a leaf.

to lance-elliptic ..... D. incrassata (2)

8' Basal leaves abaxially hairy

13. Plant cushion-forming; flowers yellow; cauline leaves 0

14. Style 1.5–3.8 mm; seeds winged ..... D. pterosperma

14' Style 0.1–0.8(1) mm; seeds wingless

15. Leaf hairs 

sessile 

Without a petiole, peduncle, pedicel, or other kind of stalk.

, comb-like, 7–16-rayed, long axis parallel to midvein ..... D. oligosperma

15' Leaf hairs stalked, not comb-like, 2–12-rayed, long axis not parallel to midvein

16. Fruit not symmetric, flat, generally twisted ..... D. sierrae

16' Fruit symmetric, flat or base inflated, not twisted

17. Leaves abaxially sparsely hairy, hairs 2–4-rayed; fruit flat ..... D. densifolia (2)

17' Leaves abaxially densely hairy, hairs 2–12-rayed; fruit inflated proximally

18. Inflorescence generally elongated in fruit; 

basal 

At or near the base of a plant or plant part. Especially said of leaves clustered near the ground or of a placenta confined to the base of an ovary.

leaves 

ciliate 

Having generally straight, conspicuous hairs along margins or edges.

, adaxial hairs 

simple 

Composed of a single part; undivided; unbranched.

, some 2-rayed ..... D. novolympica

18' Inflorescence umbel-like in fruit; basal leaves not ciliate, adaxial hairs 5–12-rayed ..... D. subumbellata

13' Plant not cushion-forming; flowers white (yellow); cauline leaves (0)1–many

19. Inflorescence axis glabrous

20. Hairs on basal leaves 8–12-rayed on abaxial surface ..... D. lonchocarpa (2)

20' Hairs on basal leaves 2–5-rayed on abaxial surface, occasionally also simple

21. Fruit base ± inflated; petals white; inflorescence umbel-like in fruit ..... D. monoensis (2)

21' Fruit base flat; petals yellow; inflorescence elongated in fruit

22. Seeds 8–12; pedicels decurrent at base ..... D. incrassata (2)

22' Seeds (12)14–44; pedicels not decurrent at base

23. Perennial herb, short-lived, not tufted; seeds 20–44; style <= 0.1 mm; petals 2–3 mm ..... D. albertina (2)

23' Perennial herb, not short-lived, tufted; seeds 12–20; style (0.2)0.5–2 mm; petals 4–7 mm

24. Seeds winged; basal leaves not ciliate; fruit generally not twisted, straight, occasionally ± twisted ..... D. asterophora

24' Seeds wingless; basal leaves ciliate; fruit twisted, curved ..... D. sharsmithii

19' Inflorescence axis hairy

25. Basal leaves with simple hairs; petals persistent ..... D. longisquamosa

25' Basal leaves with some branched hairs; petals deciduous

26. Style (0.8)1–3.5 mm; petals yellow

27. Cauline leaves 0(1) ..... D. saxosa

27' Cauline leaves 4–33

28. Fruit oblong, not twisted; seeds 10–20; most proximal flowers bracted ..... D. aureola

28' Fruit 

elliptic 

In the shape of a flattened circle or ellipse; wider than linear

, generally twisted; seeds 16–28; flowers not bracted ..... D. corrugata (2)

26' Style 0.1–0.6 mm; petals white (yellow)

29. Leaf hairs simple or 2-rayed

30. Flowers yellow; fruit flat, ± twisted, 2.5–5 mm wide ..... D. lemmonii

30' Flowers white; fruit ± inflated proximally, not twisted, (1.2)1.5–2.5 mm wide ..... D. monoensis (2)

29' Leaf hairs generally 4–12-rayed

31. Fruit hairs 2–7-rayed only

32. Inflorescence not bracted; plant tufted; stem (1)2–10(15) cm ..... D. breweri

32' Inflorescence bracted proximally; plant not tufted; stem (6)10–30(38) cm ..... D. cana

31' At least some fruit hairs simple

33. Inflorescence 8–30(37)-flowered; leaves 

dentate 

Having margins with sharp, relatively coarse teeth pointing outward, not tipward.

; seeds (24)30–52 ..... D. praealta (2)

33' Inflorescence 3–13-flowered; leaves 

entire 

Having margins that are continuous and smooth (i.e., without teeth, lobes, etc.).

; seeds 16–32

34. Leaf hairs on both surfaces 4–8-rayed; inflorescence axis not wavy in fruit; sepals persistent ..... D. californica

34' Leaf hairs on abaxial surface 8–12-rayed; inflorescence axis ± wavy in fruit; sepals deciduous ..... D. lonchocarpa (2)

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