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Oregon rock-cress

spreading rockcress

Habit Perennials; (caudex simple or branched, with some persistent petiolar remains); sparsely to moderately pubescent, trichomes bulbous-based, simple and long-stalked, forked, (to 2 mm), these often mixed with fewer 3-rayed, stalked stellate ones. Biennials or, rarely, perennials; (short-lived, with caudex); usually densely hirsute (at least basally), trichomes simple (to 1 mm), sometimes mixed with stalked, forked ones.
Stems

simple or few from base (caudex), erect, unbranched distally, (0.6–)1.7–4.5(–5) dm, (usually pubescent throughout, rarely subglabrate, coarsely hirsute, trichomes simple, mixed with forked ones).

simple or several from base (rosette), erect, often branched distally, (1.8–)2.5–4.5(–5.5) dm, (hirsute at least basally).

Basal leaves

petiole 0.5–2(–3) cm, (ciliate);

blade oblanceolate to obovate, (1–)2–5(–9) cm × (5–)8–18(–22) mm, margins entire or repand to dentate, (ciliate), apex obtuse, surfaces pubescent or glabrous, trichomes simple and forked, sometimes mixed with 3-rayed stellate ones.

petiole (0.7–)2–5 cm;

blade usually ovate to oblanceolate, rarely cordate, (0.8–)1.5–3 cm × 5–17 mm, margins dentate or serrate, surfaces sparsely to densely pubescent, trichomes simple or forked.

Cauline leaves

3–6 (or 7);

blade oblong, 1–3(–6) cm × 2–7(–15) mm, base not auriculate, margins entire or dentate, (ciliate or not), apex obtuse, surfaces pubescent as basal leaves or glabrous.

(5–)8–20(–27), (overlapping or not);

blade ovate to oblong or lanceolate, (2–)3–7.5(–9) cm × (10–)13–25(–35) mm, base amplexicaul, margins usually dentate or serrate, sometimes entire, surfaces hirsute.

Racemes

simple, (dense).

branched.

Flowers

sepals (purple), oblong, (5–)6–8 × 1.5–2 mm, lateral pair saccate basally;

petals purple or pink, spatulate, (10–)12–15(–16) × (3–)4–5 mm, apex obtuse;

filaments (4–)5–8 mm;

anthers narrowly oblong, 1.2–1.8 mm.

sepals oblong, 2.5–4.5 × 1–1.5 mm, lateral pair slightly saccate basally;

petals white, spatulate, (5–)6–9 × 2–3.5 mm, apex obtuse;

filaments 3–5 mm;

anthers oblong, 0.8–1.2 mm.

Fruiting pedicels

ascending to erect, 5–10 mm, (pubescent or glabrous).

ascending to divaricate-ascending, (7–)10–20(–24) mm, (glabrous or sparsely pubescent).

Fruits

erect or nearly so, slightly torulose, (3–)4.5–6 cm × 1.5–2 mm;

valves each with prominent midvein;

ovules 24–30 per ovary;

style 0.5–1 mm.

divaricate to erect-ascending, (not appressed to rachis), torulose, 2.2–4.6 cm × 0.8–1.2mm;

valves each with prominent midvein extending to middle or full length;

ovules 16–28 per ovary;

style 0.5–2 mm, (slender).

Seeds

narrowly winged distally or not winged, oblong, 1.8–2.2 × ca. 1 mm;

wing ca. 0.1 mm wide.

narrowly winged distally, oblong, 1–1.6 × 0.6–0.8 mm;

wing 0.05–0.1 mm.

2n

= 32.

Arabis oregana

Arabis patens

Phenology Flowering Apr–May. Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat Moist granitic soil, rocky hillsides, chaparrals, steep banks Rocky wooded slopes, shady stream banks, limestone ledges and bluffs
Elevation 500-1000(-1400) m (1600-3300(-4600) ft) 0-500 m (0-1600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR
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from FNA
DC; IN; KY; MD; NC; OH; PA; TN; VA; WV
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[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Arabis oregana is known from Napa and Siskiyou counties (California) and Jackson County (Oregon).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 7, p. 264. FNA vol. 7, p. 262.
Parent taxa Brassicaceae > tribe Arabideae > Arabis Brassicaceae > tribe Arabideae > Arabis
Sibling taxa
A. aculeolata, A. alpina, A. blepharophylla, A. caucasica, A. crucisetosa, A. eschscholtziana, A. furcata, A. georgiana, A. mcdonaldiana, A. modesta, A. nuttallii, A. olympica, A. patens, A. pycnocarpa
A. aculeolata, A. alpina, A. blepharophylla, A. caucasica, A. crucisetosa, A. eschscholtziana, A. furcata, A. georgiana, A. mcdonaldiana, A. modesta, A. nuttallii, A. olympica, A. oregana, A. pycnocarpa
Synonyms A. purpurascens, A. furcata var. purpurascens Boechera patens
Name authority Rollins: Rhodora 43: 349. (1941) Sullivant: Amer. J. Sci. Arts 42: 49. (1842)
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