Boechera dentata

Biennials; short-lived; sexual; caudex present or absent. Stems usually 2–4 per plant or caudex branch, arising from margin of rosette near ground surface, or arising laterally proximal to sterile shoots, 2–6 dm, pubescent proximally, trichomes short-stalked, 2–4-rayed, 0.15–0.4 mm, sparsely pubescent or glabrous distally. Basal leaves: blade obovate to oblanceolate, (6–)10–45 mm wide, margins dentate, not ciliate, surfaces sparsely pubescent, abaxially trichomes short-stalked, 3- or 4-rayed, 0.15–0.4 mm, adaxially simple ones, 0.4–1 mm. Cauline leaves: 4–20, rarely concealing stem; blade auricles 1–8 mm, surfaces of distalmost leaves sparsely pubescent. Racemes 14–66-flowered, sparingly branched. Fruiting pedicels divaricate-ascending to slightly descending, straight, 1–6 mm, glabrous or pubescent, trichomes appressed, branched. Flowers divaricate at anthesis; sepals glabrous or sparsely pubescent; petals white or cream, 2–3.5 × 0.7–1 mm, glabrous; pollen ellipsoid. Fruits divaricate-ascending to slightly descending, not appressed to rachis, not secund, straight or slightly curved, edges parallel, 1.3–4.2 cm × 0.7–0.8 mm; valves usually sparsely pubescent throughout, rarely glabrous; ovules 14–44 per ovary; style 0.1–0.5 mm. Seeds uniseriate, 0.7–1.1 × 0.5–0.6 mm; not winged.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Bluffs and rocky ledges, wooded slopes, floodplains
Elevation: 100-300 m

Ont., Ala., Ark., D.C., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Md., Mich., Minn., Mo., Nebr., N.Y., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.Dak., Tenn., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Sisymbrium dentatum Torrey is an illegitimate name that pertains to Iodanthus dentatus.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa