Arabis olympica
Olympics rockcress
simple or few from base (caudex), erect, unbranched, 0.7–1.1 dm, (pubescent throughout, trichomes short-stalked, forked).
petiole 0.3–0.6 cm, (sparsely ciliate);
blades oblanceolate to obovate, 0.4–1cm × 2–7 mm, margins entire or repand, (ciliate), apex obtuse, surfaces sparsely pubescent, trichomes simple and forked.
4–6;
blade oblong, 0.6–0.8 cm × 2–3 mm, base not auriculate, margins entire, (ciliate), apex obtuse.
simple, (dense).
sepals (greenish), ovate, 1.5 × 0.5 mm, lateral pair not saccate basally, (glabrous);
petals white, oblanceolate, 3.5–4 × 1 mm, apex rounded.
erect, (subappressed to rachis), 5–6.5 mm, (glabrous).
erect, (appressed to rachis), slightly torulose, 2–2.3 cm × 1 mm;
valves each with distinct midvein extending full length;
ovules 28–34 per ovary;
style 0.2–0.3 mm, (stout).
winged distally, oblong, ca. 1 × 0.5 mm;
wing ca. 0.1 mm wide.
Arabis olympica
Arabis olympica, which is known from two collections, J. B. Flett s.n. (holotype, US; isotype, WS) and N. Buckingham 1577 (WS) that were made from Jefferson and Clallam counties, respectively, was reduced by R. C. Rollins (1936, 1941, 1993) to a variety of A. furcata. An examination of the type collections of both species reveals that they are distinct. Although the fruits and seeds of A. olympica are not fully mature, they are clearly different in width and orientation from those of A. furcata at the same developmental stage. The striking differences in fruit width and orientation, stem indument, and seed and flower size support their maintenance as distinct species. Although both species grow in Washington, the range of A. olympica seems to be restricted to Clallam and Jefferson counties and is disjunct from Chelan, Kittitas, and Yakima counties, where A. furcata grows.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
WA
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
