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short-pod whitlowgrass, shortfruit Draba, shortpod Draba

Carolina Draba, Carolina whitlow-grass, Carolina whitlow-mustard, creeping Draba

Habit Annuals; not scapose. Annuals; scapose or subscapose.
Stems

usually branched, rarely unbranched, (0.3–)0.4–1.9(–2.2) dm, pubescent throughout, trichomes sessile, cruciform, 0.2–0.6(–0.8) mm (rays often equal, or those parallel to stem axis longer).

(simple or few from, or distal to, base), unbranched, (0.1–)0.3–1.2(–1.6) dm, sparsely to densely pubescent proximally, trichomes 2 (or 3)-rayed, 0.1–0.6 mm, sometimes with simple or spurred ones, to 0.9 mm, distally usually glabrous, rarely with few trichomes.

Basal leaves

not rosulate; petiolate;

petiole (to 0.5 cm), not ciliate;

blade oblanceolate to obovate, 0.5–2 cm × 2–8 mm, margins entire, surfaces pubescent, trichomes cruciform, 0.2–0.6(–0.8) mm.

not rosulate;

petiole obscure;

blade elliptic or spatulate to obovate or suborbicular, 0.5–2.3(–3) cm × 1.5–8(–13) mm, margins entire, surfaces pubescent abaxially with stalked, 2–4-rayed trichomes, 0.1–0.5 mm, adaxially with simple trichomes, 0.6–1 mm, with stalked, 2-rayed ones, to 0.7 mm.

Cauline leaves

(4–)6–11;

sessile;

blade lanceolate to oblong or linear, margins entire, surfaces pubescent as basal.

usually 0, rarely 1–3;

sessile;

blade similar to basal.

Racemes

(main branch) (20–)25–65(–74)-flowered, ebracteate, elongated in fruit;

rachis not flexuous, pubescent as stem.

(3–)5–12(–16)-flowered, ebracteate, (subumbellate), not elongated in fruit;

rachis not flexuous, usually glabrous, rarely sparsely pubescent.

Flowers

(late ones cleistogamous, apetalous);

sepals (green or pink), oblong, 0.7–1.2(–1.5) mm, pubescent;

petals white, spatulate, 2–3 × 0.8–1.1 mm;

anthers ovate, 0.15–0.25 mm.

(late-season ones cleistogamous, apetalous);

sepals oblong, 1.5–2.3 mm, pubescent, (trichomes simple);

petals (rarely absent), white, spatulate, 2–4.5 × 1–1.5 mm;

anthers ovate, 0.4–0.5 mm.

Fruiting pedicels

horizontal to divaricate-ascending, straight, (1–)1.5–4(–5) mm, pubescent, trichomes cruciform.

horizontal to divaricate-ascending, straight, (1–)2–7(–9) mm, glabrous or glabrate.

Fruits

usually elliptic to linear-elliptic, rarely ovate-elliptic, plane, flattened, (2–)2.5–5(–6) × 0.9–1.4(–1.9) mm;

valves glabrous;

ovules 8–16(–20) per ovary;

style 0.05–0.1 mm.

linear to linear-oblong, plane, flattened, (5–)7–16(–20) × 1.2–2.3 mm;

valves glabrous or pubescent, trichomes usually simple and antrorse, 0.1–0.3 mm, rarely with fewer, spurred or 2-rayed ones;

ovules 32–88 per ovary;

style 0.02–0.1 mm.

Seeds

(winged), ovoid, 0.5–0.7 × 0.4–0.5 mm.

oblong to ovoid, 0.5–0.8 × 0.3–0.5 mm.

2n

= 16.

= 16, 30, 32.

Draba brachycarpa

Draba reptans

Phenology Flowering Feb–May. Flowering Feb–Jun(-Aug).
Habitat Open woods, cedar glades, pastures and lawns, roadsides, disturbed sites Rock outcrops, dry slopes and hillsides, prairies, glades, roadsides, disturbed sites
Elevation 0-300 m (0-1000 ft) 0-3000 m (0-9800 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; AZ; FL; GA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MO; MS; NC; OH; OK; OR; SC; TN; TX; VA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; AZ; CA; CO; GA; IA; ID; IL; KS; MA; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; ND; NE; NM; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; SC; SD; TN; TX; UT; WA; WI; WY; AB; BC; MB; ON; SK
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Draba brachycarpa is closely related to D. aprica and the two are sometimes confused. It is readily distinguished by having leaves with sessile (versus stalked) trichomes, glabrous (versus pubescent) fruits, and smaller (0.5–0.7 versus 0.9–1.1 mm) seeds.

The records from Arizona and Oregon are based on old collections, Porter 802 (Devil’s Canyon, 22 Feb 1926, US) and Howell s.n. (near Cobarg, Willamette Valley, 7 Apr 1887, US); it is not known if these records represent introductions or remnants of a previously wider distribution.

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

Draba reptans is often confused with D. cuneifolia, but the two are easily separated. The rachises and pedicels of D. reptans are usually glabrous (rarely with a few isolated trichomes); those of D. cuneifolia are always densely pubescent. Interestingly, both species show parallel variations in chromosome number; it is currently unclear whether this variation is real or the result of misidentified specimens and/or erroneous counts.

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

Source FNA vol. 7, p. 296. FNA vol. 7, p. 333.
Parent taxa Brassicaceae > tribe Arabideae > Draba Brassicaceae > tribe Arabideae > Draba
Sibling taxa
D. abajoensis, D. albertina, D. aleutica, D. alpina, D. aprica, D. arabisans, D. arctica, D. arctogena, D. argyrea, D. arida, D. asprella, D. asterophora, D. aurea, D. aureola, D. bifurcata, D. borealis, D. brachystylis, D. breweri, D. burkei, D. californica, D. cana, D. carnosula, D. chamissonis, D. cinerea, D. corrugata, D. corymbosa, D. crassa, D. crassifolia, D. cruciata, D. cuneifolia, D. cusickii, D. cyclomorpha, D. daviesiae, D. densifolia, D. exunguiculata, D. fladnizensis, D. glabella, D. globosa, D. graminea, D. grandis, D. grayana, D. heilii, D. helleriana, D. hitchcockii, D. howellii, D. incana, D. incerta, D. incrassata, D. inexpectata, D. jaegeri, D. juvenilis, D. kassii, D. kluanei, D. lactea, D. lemmonii, D. lonchocarpa, D. longisquamosa, D. macounii, D. maguirei, D. malpighiacea, D. micropetala, D. mogollonica, D. monoensis, D. mulliganii, D. murrayi, D. nemorosa, D. nivalis, D. norvegica, D. novolympica, D. oblongata, D. ogilviensis, D. oligosperma, D. oreibata, D. oxycarpa, D. palanderiana, D. pauciflora, D. paucifructa, D. paysonii, D. pectinipila, D. pedicellata, D. pennellii, D. petrophila, D. pilosa, D. platycarpa, D. porsildii, D. praealta, D. pterosperma, D. ramosissima, D. ramulosa, D. rectifructa, D. reptans, D. ruaxes, D. santaquinensis, D. saxosa, D. scotteri, D. serpentina, D. sharsmithii, D. sibirica, D. sierrae, D. simmonsii, D. smithii, D. sobolifera, D. spectabilis, D. sphaerocarpa, D. sphaeroides, D. standleyi, D. stenoloba, D. stenopetala, D. streptobrachia, D. streptocarpa, D. subalpina, D. subcapitata, D. subumbellata, D. trichocarpa, D. ventosa, D. verna, D. viridis, D. weberi, D. yukonensis, D. zionensis
D. abajoensis, D. albertina, D. aleutica, D. alpina, D. aprica, D. arabisans, D. arctica, D. arctogena, D. argyrea, D. arida, D. asprella, D. asterophora, D. aurea, D. aureola, D. bifurcata, D. borealis, D. brachycarpa, D. brachystylis, D. breweri, D. burkei, D. californica, D. cana, D. carnosula, D. chamissonis, D. cinerea, D. corrugata, D. corymbosa, D. crassa, D. crassifolia, D. cruciata, D. cuneifolia, D. cusickii, D. cyclomorpha, D. daviesiae, D. densifolia, D. exunguiculata, D. fladnizensis, D. glabella, D. globosa, D. graminea, D. grandis, D. grayana, D. heilii, D. helleriana, D. hitchcockii, D. howellii, D. incana, D. incerta, D. incrassata, D. inexpectata, D. jaegeri, D. juvenilis, D. kassii, D. kluanei, D. lactea, D. lemmonii, D. lonchocarpa, D. longisquamosa, D. macounii, D. maguirei, D. malpighiacea, D. micropetala, D. mogollonica, D. monoensis, D. mulliganii, D. murrayi, D. nemorosa, D. nivalis, D. norvegica, D. novolympica, D. oblongata, D. ogilviensis, D. oligosperma, D. oreibata, D. oxycarpa, D. palanderiana, D. pauciflora, D. paucifructa, D. paysonii, D. pectinipila, D. pedicellata, D. pennellii, D. petrophila, D. pilosa, D. platycarpa, D. porsildii, D. praealta, D. pterosperma, D. ramosissima, D. ramulosa, D. rectifructa, D. ruaxes, D. santaquinensis, D. saxosa, D. scotteri, D. serpentina, D. sharsmithii, D. sibirica, D. sierrae, D. simmonsii, D. smithii, D. sobolifera, D. spectabilis, D. sphaerocarpa, D. sphaeroides, D. standleyi, D. stenoloba, D. stenopetala, D. streptobrachia, D. streptocarpa, D. subalpina, D. subcapitata, D. subumbellata, D. trichocarpa, D. ventosa, D. verna, D. viridis, D. weberi, D. yukonensis, D. zionensis
Synonyms Abdra brachycarpa Arabis reptans, D. caroliniana, D. caroliniana var. dolichocarpa, D. caroliniana var. hunteri, D. caroliniana var. micrantha, D. caroliniana subsp. stellifera, D. caroliniana var. umbellata, D. coloradensis, D. hispidula, D. micrantha, D. reptans var. micrantha, D. reptans subsp. stellifera, D. reptans var. stellifera, D. umbellata, Tomostima caroliniana, Tomostima hispidula, Tomostima micrantha
Name authority Nuttall ex Torrey & A. Gray: Fl. N. Amer. 1: 108. (1838) (Lamarck) Fernald: Rhodora 36: 368. (1934)
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