Boechera rubicundula

Perennials; long-lived; apomictic; caudex woody. Stems usually 1 per caudex branch, arising from center of rosette, often somewhat elevated above ground surface on woody base, 1–5 dm, densely pubescent proximally, trichomes simple, 0.5–1 mm, mixed with long-stalked, 2- or 3-rayed ones, 0.1–0.5 mm, moderately to sparsely pubescent distally. Basal leaves: blade oblanceolate, 4–8 mm wide, margins denticulate, ciliate along petiole, trichomes to 1 mm, surfaces densely pubescent, trichomes long-stalked, 2–5-rayed, 0.1–0.5 mm. Cauline leaves: 8–25, often concealing stem proximally; blade auricles 1–3 mm, surfaces of distalmost leaves moderately pubescent. Racemes 12–34-flowered, usually unbranched. Fruiting pedicels divaricate-ascending to horizontal, straight, 5–10 mm, pubescent, trichomes spreading, simple and 2-rayed. Flowers ascending at anthesis; sepals pubescent; petals purplish, 6–8 × 2–2.5 mm, glabrous; pollen spheroid. Fruits divaricate-ascending to horizontal, not appressed to rachis, not secund, straight or slightly curved, edges parallel, 4–8 cm × 1.7–2.2 mm; valves glabrous; ovules 70–102 per ovary; style 0.1–0.3 mm. Seeds uniseriate, 1.4–1.8 × 1–1.3 mm; wing continuous, 0.1–0.2 mm wide.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat: Mountain slopes
Elevation: ca. 1200 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif.

Discussion

Morphological evidence suggests that Boechera rubicundula is an apomictic species that arose through hybridization between B. arcuata and B. breweri (see M. D. Windham and I. A. Al-Shehbaz 2007 for detailed comparison). It is known only from the type locality on Mt. Day in west-central California.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.