Dithyrea californica

Harvey

London J. Bot. 4: 77, plate 5. 1845.

Illustrated
Synonyms: Biscutella californica (Harvey) Bentham & Hooker f. ex W. H. Brewer & S. Watson Dithyrea californica var. clinata (J. F. Macbride & Payson) Wiggins Dithyrea clinata
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 7. Treatment on page 607.

Annuals. Stems few to several from base, erect, branched distally, (0.7–)1–6(–7) dm. Basal leaves: petiole (0.5–)1–4(–5) cm; blade lanceolate, oblanceolate, or ovate, (1.2–)2–5(–6) cm × (5–)10–20(–30) mm, base cuneate, margins usually dentate, sinuate, rarely pinnatifid. Cauline leaves (distal) shortly petiolate or sessile; blade ovate, lanceolate, or oblong, 1–4(–5) cm × (3–)10–20(–30) mm, base cuneate, margins entire, dentate, or repand. Racemes considerably elongated in fruit. Fruiting pedicels 1.5–2.5 mm. Flowers: sepals purple to lavender, linear, (6–)7–9(–10) × 0.8–1.2 mm; petals white to pale lavender, (10–)12–15 × (1.5–)2–3 mm; filaments 6–7 mm; anthers 1.5–2(–2.5) mm. Fruits: valves transversely ovate to suborbicular, 3.5–5(–6) × 4–6(–7) mm, base and apex rounded, pubescent, trichomes clavate, simple, papillate (branched trichomes rarely present on fruit margin); style 0.1–0.5(–1) mm. Seeds 3–4 × 1.5–2.5 mm. 2n = 20.


Phenology: Flowering (depending on elevation) Mar–Oct.
Habitat: Sandy deserts, sand dunes
Elevation: 50-1400 m

Distribution

V7 993-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Nev., Mexico (Baja California, Sonora).

Discussion

Dithyrea californica is known in Arizona from Maricopa, Mohave, and Yuma counties and in Nevada from Clark and Lincoln counties. In material with immature fruits and lacking the proximal portion of stems, the species is readily distinguished from D. maritima by the presence of clavate trichomes, quite visible even on the ovaries of developing fruits. By contrast, D. maritima has branched instead of clavate trichomes.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Dithyrea californica"
Ihsan A. Al-Shehbaz +
Harvey +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Nev. +, Mexico (Baja California +  and Sonora). +
50-1400 m +
Sandy deserts, sand dunes +
Flowering (depending on elevation) Mar–Oct. +
London J. Bot. +
Illustrated +
Biscutella californica +, Dithyrea californica var. clinata +  and Dithyrea clinata +
Dithyrea californica +
Dithyrea +
species +