Peritoma arborea

Shrubs (evergreen), 50–200 cm. Stems profusely branched; glabrate or puberulent (bark corky, twigs smooth). Leaves: petiole 1–3 cm; leaflets 3, blade oblong-elliptic, 1.5–4.5 × 0.4–1.3 cm, margins serrate, apex acuminate to obtuse, surfaces glaucous. Racemes 1–3 cm (6–40 cm in fruit); bracts unifoliate, obovate to spatulate, 2–15 mm. Pedicels 7–15 mm (thickened in fruit). Flowers: sepals persistent, connate ca. 1/2 of length, green, lanceolate, 4–7 × 2.2–4 mm, margins entire, glabrous; petals yellow, ovate-elliptic, 8–14 × 4.2–5 mm, (apex acute); stamens yellow, 15–25 mm; anthers 2–2.5 mm; gynophore (reflexed), 10–20 mm in fruit; ovary 3–6 mm (often aborting in bud); style 0.9–1.2 mm. Capsules (tardily dehiscent), usually inflated,(valves sometimes 3), 20–30 × 6–12 mm, smooth. Seeds 5–25, dark brown, obovoid, 6–7 × 5–6 mm, smooth.

Distribution

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sw United States, nw, w Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Peritoma arborea is woody and is variable in fruit size and shape. The large variability in fruit shape has led to the naming of varieties (L. D. Benson and R. A. Darrow 1945).

Selected References

Truesdale H. D. et al. 2004. Allozyme vari-ability within and among varieties of Isomeris arborea (Capparaceae). Madroño 51: 364–371.

Lower Taxa

Peritoma arborea var. angustata, Peritoma arborea var. arborea, Peritoma arborea var. globosa

Key

1	Capsules not inflated, narrowly fusiform.	Peritoma arborea var. angustata
1	Capsules inflated, obovoid or subglobose	> 2
2	Capsules inflated, obovoid.	Peritoma arborea var. arborea
2	Capsules strongly inflated, subglobose.	Peritoma arborea var. globosa