Boechera pygmaea |
|
---|---|
Tulare County rock cress |
|
Habit | Perennials; usually long-lived; sexual; caudex woody, (often with persistent, crowded leaf bases). |
Stems | usually 2–5 per caudex branch, arising from margin of rosette near ground surface, or arising laterally proximal to sterile shoots, 0.2–0.8 dm, pubescent proximally, trichomes simple and short-stalked, 2- or 3-rayed, to 0.4 mm, glabrescent distally. |
Basal leaves | blade linear, 0.8–1.5 mm wide, margins entire, ciliate, trichomes (simple and spurred), to 0.8 mm, surfaces moderately pubescent, trichomes short-stalked, 2–4-rayed, 0.05–0.4 mm. |
Cauline leaves | 2–4, not concealing stem; blade auricles absent, surfaces of distalmost leaves pubescent. |
Racemes | 2–5-flowered, unbranched. |
Flowers | erect at anthesis; sepals pubescent; petals white, 3.5–5 × 0.7–1 mm, glabrous; pollen ellipsoid. |
Fruiting pedicels | erect to ascending, straight, 2–7 mm, usually pubescent, rarely glabrous, trichomes subappressed, branched. |
Fruits | erect to ascending, often appressed to rachis, not secund, straight, edges parallel, (1.3–)2–3.3 cm × 4–5 mm; valves glabrous; ovules 8–12 per ovary; style 0.05–0.4 mm. |
Seeds | uniseriate, 3–5 × 2.5–4.5 mm; wing continuous, 0.8–2 mm wide distally. |
Boechera pygmaea |
|
Phenology | Flowering May–Jul. |
Habitat | Barren flats of arkosic gravel |
Elevation | 2400-3200 m (7900-10500 ft) |
Distribution |
CA |
Discussion | Of conservation concern. Despite the distinctive morphology of Boechera pygmaea, there is evidence that it is capable of producing fertile hybrids with B. stricta. It is known only from Inyo and Tulare counties in the southern Sierra Nevada. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 7, p. 401. |
Parent taxa | |
Sibling taxa | |
Synonyms | Arabis pygmaea |
Name authority | (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz: Novon 13: 388. (2003) |
Web links |
|