Physaria cordiformis
Contr. Gray Herb. 171: 47. 1950.
Perennials; caudex simple or branched; densely pubescent, trichomes (short-stalked), several-rayed, rays furcate or bifurcate, (sometimes slightly umbonate, prominently tuberculate). Stems simple or few from base, prostrate to decumbent (arising laterally from a tuft of leaves, unbranched), 0.5–1.5 dm. Basal leaves: blade suborbicular, deltate to rhombic, or elliptic, margins entire or sparsely dentate, 2–4(–6) cm. Cauline leaves (shortly petiolate); blade oblanceolate to linear, 1–2(–3) cm, margins entire. Racemes loose, (sometimes elongated). Fruiting pedicels (sigmoid), 5–10 mm. Flowers: sepals lanceolate, 3.5–6(–8) mm; petals obovate to oblanceolate, (5–)7–8.5(–10) mm. Fruits obcordate to truncate or obcompressed, slightly compressed (angustiseptate, inflated at lobe tips), 3–6mm (wider than long); valves densely pubescent, trichomes appressed or slightly spreading; (septum usually fenestrate); ovules 4–8 per ovary; style (slender), 3–6.5 mm, (often pubescent). Seeds flattened. 2n = 10.
Phenology: Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat: Dry sandy or gravelly soils, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and juniper communities, steep hillsides, rocky ridges, talus, whitish clay hills
Elevation: 1500-2700 m
Distribution
Calif., Idaho, Nev., Utah.
Discussion
Selected References
None.