Annuals; not scapose; hirsute [glabrous], (trichomes often retrorse). Stems usually erect or ascending, rarely decumbent, usually branched, rarely simple. Leaves basal and cauline; petiolate or subsessile; basal not rosulate, petiolate, blade 1- or 2-pinnatisect, margins entire; cauline subsessile or shortly petiolate, blade 1- or 2-pinnatisect, (base not auriculate), margins entire. Racemes (lax), considerably elongated in fruit. Fruiting pedicels strongly recurved, often secund, not thickened. Flowers: sepals erect, oblong-linear, lateral pair slightly saccate basally; petals cream or pale yellow (with dark purple or brown veins, longer than sepals), spatulate to obovate, claw strongly differentiated from blade; stamens tetradynamous, (erect); filaments not dilated basally; anthers ovate to oblong, (apiculate); nectar glands: lateral intrastaminal, globose to semi-annular, median glands present (distinct). Fruits silicles, dehiscent, sessile, segments 2, ovoid to ellipsoid, terete; (proximal segment not torulose, 4–6-seeded; terminal segment indehiscent, flattened, cochleariform to short-lingulate, seedless); valves each with prominent midvein and distinct marginal veins, glabrous except setose or hirsute on veins; replum rounded; septum complete; ovules 4–6 per ovary; (style obscure); stigma capitate, 2-lobed. Seeds biseriate, plump, not winged, subglobose; seed coat (smooth), mucilaginous when wetted; cotyledons conduplicate. x = 8.

Distribution

Calif., s Europe, sw Asia, n Africa, introduced also in Australia.

Discussion

Species 1.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Carrichtera annua