Boechera falcifructa
usually 1 per caudex branch, arising from center of rosette near ground surface, 1.5–4.5 dm, densely pubescent proximally, trichomes short-stalked, 4–9-rayed, 0.05–0.2 mm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent distally.
blade linear to narrowly oblanceolate, 1–4 mm wide, margins entire, ciliate at petiole base, trichomes (simple), to 0.5 mm, surfaces densely pubescent, trichomes short-stalked, 4–9-rayed, 0.05–0.2 mm.
5–9, not concealing stem;
blade auricles 0.5–1 mm, surfaces of distalmost leaves sparsely pubescent.
10–18-flowered, sparingly branched.
divaricate-ascending at anthesis;
sepals pubescent;
petals lavender, 5–7 × 0.7–1.2 mm, glabrous;
pollen spheroid.
divaricate-descending, gently curved downward, 6–12 mm, pubescent, trichomes appressed, branched.
divaricate-descending, not appressed to rachis, not secund, gently curved, edges parallel, 4.5–6 cm × 1.2–1.5 mm;
valves glabrous;
ovules 62–80 per ovary;
style 0.5–1 mm.
uniseriate, 1.2–1.7 × 0.8–1.2 mm;
wing mostly distal, 0.05–0.1 mm wide.
Boechera falcifructa
Of conservation concern.
Morphological evidence suggests that Boechera falcifructa is an apomictic species that arose through hybridization between B. cobrensis and B. fernaldiana. It is more similar to the former, but is distinguished by its gently curved fruiting pedicels (versus strongly recurved or reflexed distally), narrower (1.2–1.5 versus 1.7–2.5 mm) fruits, more (62–80 versus 34–64) ovules per ovary, longer (0.5–1 versus 0.05–0.2 mm) styles, and narrower (0.05–0.1 versus 0.25–0.5 mm) seed wings. Although independently reproducing, B. falcifructa is known only from Elko and Lander counties, where the parental species grow in proximity.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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