Caulanthus flavescens

Annuals; (not glaucous), glabrous or sparsely to moderately hirsute. Stems erect, unbranched or branched distally, 1.7–12 dm, usually hirsute basally. Basal leaves soon withered; blade lyrate, margins sinuate-pinnatifid. Cauline leaves petiolate (median 0.3–2 cm) or (distal) sessile; blade lanceolate to oblong or oblanceolate, 2–13.5 cm × 3–35 mm (smaller distally, base sometimes subauriculate), margins dentate. Racemes without a terminal cluster of sterile flowers, (considerably elongated in fruit). Fruiting pedicels ascending to strongly reflexed, (slender or thickened), 4.5–8 mm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Flowers: sepals usually erect, rarely ascending to spreading, oblong, 6–9 × 1.5–2 mm, (not saccate or urceolate); petals (erect), usually white to creamy white, rarely pinkish, (narrowly lanceolate), 7–13 mm, blade 3–5 × 1–1.5 mm, channeled, crisped, claw linear-oblanceolate, 4–8 × 1–1.7 mm; filaments tetradynamous, (erect), median pairs 5–7 mm, lateral pair 3–5 mm; anthers narrowly oblong, equal, 1.5–2.5 mm. Fruits erect, (straight), terete, 3.8–7.7 cm × 1.4–2 mm; valves each with obscure midvein, (glabrous or sparsely pubescent); ovules 44–58 per ovary; style 1–3.5 mm; stigma subentire. Seeds (brown), 1.3–1.8 × 0.9–1.2 mm. 2n = 28.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–May.
Habitat: Serpentine grounds, roadsides, gumbo clay slopes, open hillsides, grassy fields
Elevation: 100-800 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif.

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Caulanthus flavescens is distributed primarily from Monterey and San Benito counties north to Napa and San Joaquin counties.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.