Tropidocarpum californicum

Plants pilose basally, trichomes (soft), simple, to 1.5 mm, these rarely mixed with fewer, forked, stalked ones, sparsely pubescent distally. Stems ascending or decumbent, 0.3–2.5 dm. Basal leaves not seen. Cauline leaves: (proximal) petiole to 1 cm or (distal and bracts) subsessile; blade 2.5–4.5 cm (smaller distally), margins pinnatifid to pinnatisect (less divided distally); lobes 2–4 on each side, oblong to linear, 0.3–1.5 cm × 1–3 mm, shorter than terminal, margins entire. Fruiting pedicels divaricate-ascending, straight, 3–10(–28) mm, pilose. Flowers: sepals 1.2–2 × 0.7–0.9 mm, glabrous; petals (not with purple tinge), oblanceolate to spatulate, 1.6–2.5 × 0.7–0.9 mm, cuneate into short claw; filaments 1.2–1.7 mm; anthers 0.3–0.4 mm. Fruits obdeltoid, 4–5 × 4–5 mm, length equal to width; valves 2, thin-leathery proximally, thick-leathery to subwoody and tuberculate-rugose on outside distally, puberulent, trichomes simple, antrorse, these sometimes mixed with minute, 1-forked ones; septum present; ovules 4–8 per ovary; style 0.3–0.9 mm. Seeds brown, 1.2–1.5 × 0.6–0.9 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Mar.
Habitat: Subalkaline clay in scrub
Elevation: ca. 70 m

Calif.

Discussion

Tropidocarpum californicum is known from adjacent parts of Kern and King counties in San Joaquin Valley.

of conservation concern

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa