Physaria vicina

Perennials; (flowering in the first year); caudex branched, (well-developed); densely pubescent, trichomes (subsessile, appressed to spreading), 3–6-rayed, rays furcate or bifurcate, usually slightly fused at base, less frequently distinct. Stems few to several from base, ascending (in flower) to nearly prostrate (in fruit), (unbranched), 1–2.5 dm. Basal leaves: (petiole 1–3.5 cm); blade ovate to rhombic or rotund, 2–7 cm, (base narrowed abruptly to petiole), margins usually entire, occasionally shallowly repand, (flat). Cauline leaves: blade elliptic or narrowly so, (0.7–)1–2.5 cm, (base narrowed gradually to petiole), margins entire. Racemes dense, (elongated in fruit). Fruiting pedicels (ascending, curved to slightly sigmoid), (4–)6–12 mm, (stout). Flowers: sepals (lavender under grayish trichomes), elliptic, 4–6 mm; petals (white, pale yellow basally, often tinged lavender abaxially), narrowly spatulate, 6–10 mm, (claw undifferentiated from blade). Fruits subglobose to ovoid, slightly compressed, 5–7 mm; valves densely pubescent, trichomes spreading; ovules 8–12 per ovary; style 4–6 mm. Seeds flattened, (faintly margined).

Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Nearly barren sites, soils derived from Mancos Shale or, less frequently, Jurassic sandstone, pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, Gambel oak
Elevation: 1800-2200 m

Colo.

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa