Boechera pratincola

Perennials; usually short-lived; apomictic; caudex not woody. Stems usually 1 per caudex branch, arising from center of rosette near ground surface, 2–6 dm, pubescent proximally, trichomes sessile, 2- or 3-rayed, 0.15–0.6 mm, glabrous distally. Basal leaves: blade oblanceolate, 1.5–5(–7) mm wide, margins usually entire, rarely denticulate, ciliate at petiole base, trichomes to 0.4 mm, surfaces pubescent, trichomes sessile, 2–4(–6)-rayed, 0.1–0.45 mm. Cauline leaves: (7–)13–42, concealing stem proximally; blade auricles 1–4 mm, surfaces of distalmost leaves sparsely pubescent apically. Racemes (7–)14–45-flowered, usually unbranched. Fruiting pedicels erect, straight, 5–12 mm, glabrous. Flowers ascending at anthesis; sepals glabrous; petals lavender, 6–10 × 1.5–2 mm, glabrous; pollen spheroid. Fruits erect, appressed to rachis, not secund, straight, edges parallel, 4–6.5 cm × 1.5–2 mm; valves glabrous; ovules 60–140 per ovary; style 0.1–0.3 mm. Seeds sub-biseriate, 1.4–2 × 1–1.4 mm; wing continuous, 0.1–0.35 mm wide.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Rocky slopes and soil patches in open areas and along forest edges
Elevation: 1900-3200 m

Calif., Idaho, Nev., Oreg.

Discussion

Morphological evidence suggests that Boechera pratincola is an apomictic species that arose through hybridization between B. paupercula and B. stricta (see M. D. Windham and I. A. Al-Shehbaz 2007b for detailed comparison).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa