Thelypodium flexuosum

Perennials; (caudex woody, covered with persistent petiolar remains); somewhat glaucous, glabrous throughout. Stems (often subdecumbent), branched basally, (flexuous), 1.5–5.6(–8.5) dm. Basal leaves: petiole 1–6.5(–13) cm; blade often lanceolate, sometimes oblong or oblanceolate, (2–)3.5–16.5(–20.5) cm × (5–)10–25(–45) mm, margins entire. Cauline leaves (ascending); sessile; blade lanceolate to linear, 1–7(–11) cm × 2–7(–14) mm, (base sagittate to somewhat amplexicaul), margins entire. Racemes (few-flowered, corymbose), elongated in fruit, (flower buds oblong). Fruiting pedicels usually horizontal to divaricate, rarely divaricate-ascending, straight or slightly curved upward, slender, (2.5–)4–9(–16) mm, slightly flattened at base. Flowers: sepals erect, oblong, 3–4(–4.5) × 1–1.5(–1.7) mm; petals lavender or white, often spatulate, sometimes oblanceolate or obovate, 6–9(–10) × (1.5–)2–3(–3.5) mm, margins not crisped, claw strongly differentiated from blade, (slender, 2–3.5(–4) mm, narrowest at base); nectar glands lateral, median glands absent; filaments tetradynamous, median pairs 3–4(–5) mm, lateral pair 2–3.5(–4) mm; anthers included, oblong, 1–2(–2.5) mm, not circinately coiled; gynophore (stout), 0.5–1 mm. Fruits erect to ascending, torulose, slightly incurved or straight, terete, 1–2.5(–4.2) cm × 0.8–1(–1.5) mm; ovules 12–30 per ovary; style cylindrical, (0.3–)1–2(–3) mm. Seeds (1–)1.3–1.5 × 0.5–8(–1) mm. 2n = 26.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Often tangled among woody shrubs in moderately to strongly alkaline sandy loam or clay, open deserts
Elevation: 1000-2400 m

Calif., Idaho, Nev., Oreg.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa