Physaria occidentalis
Novon 12: 326. 2002.
Perennials; caudex simple or branched, (thickened, sometimes subterranean); densely pubescent, trichomes (sessile or short-stalked), 5–7-rayed, raysdistinct, bifurcate, (moderately to prominently tuberculate). Stems few to several from base, prostrate to decumbent or erect, (usually unbranched), 0.3–1.5(–3) dm. Basal leaves: (petiole slender); blade suborbicular to obovate or elliptic, 1–8 cm, (base narrowing gradually or abruptly to petiole), margins sinuate-dentate or entire. Cauline leaves: (proximal shortly petiolate, distal sessile); blade oblanceolate, 0.5–1.5(–2.5) cm, margins entire or remotely dentate. Racemes dense or loose. Fruiting pedicels (sigmoid or curved), 5–10(–15) mm. Flowers: sepals elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 4.5–7 mm, (median pair cucullate); petals spatulate, 7–9(–14) mm, (claw undifferentiated from blade). Fruits (erect), ellipsoid to obovoid, compressed at apex and sometimes margins (strongly latiseptate), (5–)6–9 mm, (apex acute, often beaked); valves densely pubescent, trichomes appressed or spreading, sometimes sparsely pubescent inside, trichomes 4- or 5-rayed; ovules 4–12 per ovary; style (2–)3–6.5 mm, (often sparsely pubescent). Seeds: inner surface flattened, outer convex.
Distribution
Calif., Idaho, Nev., Oreg., Utah, Wash.
Discussion
Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Key
| 1 | Stems erect or decumbent; fruit margins and apices compressed, apices often beaked; valves pubescent inside; ovules 4-8 per ovary; styles frequently curved; n California, c Idaho, nw Nevada, Oregon, Washington. | Physaria occidentalis subsp. occidentalis |
| 1 | Stems prostrate to decumbent; fruit, margins not conspicuously compressed, apices somewhat compressed, usually not conspicuously beaked; valves usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely pubescent inside; ovules 8-12 per ovary; styles usually straight; Nevada, w Utah. | Physaria occidentalis subsp. cinerascens |