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milkwort jewelflower

Mt. Tamalpais jewelflower, Tamalpais jewel flower

Habit Annuals; (sometimes glaucous), glabrous throughout. Annuals; (glaucous), glabrous throughout.
Stems

unbranched or branched distally, (0.8–)2–8(–10) dm.

unbranched or branched basally, 0.3–1.7(–2.8) dm.

Basal leaves

(soon withered); rosulate; petiolate;

blade 1- or 2-pinnatifid (with broadly linear to filiform lobes), 2–20 cm, margins sinuate-dentate.

(soon withered);

not rosulate; shortly petiolate;

blade (succulent, mottled), obovate to oblanceolate, 0.5–2 cm, margins coarsely dentate.

Cauline leaves

blade linear, 1–10 cm × 1–3 mm, (smaller distally), base auriculate, margins entire.

blade lanceolate, 0.5–2.5 cm × 1–7 mm (smaller distally), base auriculate, margins entire or dentate (entire distally).

Racemes

ebracteate, (lax).

ebracteate (lax, sometimes secund).

Flowers

(markedly zygomorphic);

calyx urceolate;

sepals greenish yellow or purplish, (abaxial broadly ovate, not keeled, 4–6 × 3–4 mm, lateral ovate-lanceolate, keeled, 4–6 × 1.5–2 mm, adaxial suborbicular to broadly ovate-cordate, forming a bannerlike hood, keeled, 4–6 × 6–8 mm);

petals white (with brownish veins), 5–8 mm, blade 1–3 × 0.7–1.2 mm, margins crisped (channeled), claw 4–5 mm, wider than blade;

stamens in 3 unequal pairs;

filaments: abaxial pair (distinct), 4–5 mm, lateral pair 3–4 mm, adaxial pair (connate), 5–6 mm;

anthers: abaxial and lateral pairs fertile, 1.5–2 mm, adaxial pairs sterile, 0.3–0.7 mm;

gynophore 0.1–0.4 mm.

calyx urceolate;

sepals (erect) reddish purple, (ovate), 3–5 mm, keeled, (apex spreading);

petals whitish (abaxial pair with purplish veins, adaxial pair purple), 5–8 mm, blade 2–3 × 1–1.5 mm, margins not crisped, claw 3–4 mm;

stamens in 3 unequal pairs;

filaments: abaxial pair (connate to middle), 3–4 mm, lateral pair 1.5–2.5 mm, adaxial pair (completely connate, not recurved), 5–6 mm;

anthers: abaxial and lateral pairs fertile, 1.4–1.7 mm, adaxial pairs sterile, 0.3–0.5 mm;

gynophore 0.3–0.7 mm.

Fruiting pedicels

strongly recurved, 2–5 mm.

divaricate-ascending, 1–2.5(–4) mm.

Fruits

pendent, smooth, straight, flattened, 2.4–5.6 cm × 1.2–1.7 mm;

valves each with obscure or somewhat prominent midvein;

replum straight;

ovules (10–)18–50 per ovary;

style 0.8–2 mm;

stigma entire.

divaricate-ascending, slightly torulose, straight to slightly curved, slightly flattened, 1.3–3 cm × 1–1.5 mm;

valves each with obscure midvein;

replum straight;

ovules 12–22 per ovary;

style 0.2–0.8 mm;

stigma entire.

Seeds

oblong, 1.7–2 × 0.9–1.1 mm;

wing 0.2–0.3 mm wide, distal.

oblong, 1.3–2 × 0.8–1.2 mm;

wing 0.1–0.3 mm wide distally, (narrower at margin, rarely absent).

2n

= 28.

= 28.

Streptanthus polygaloides

Streptanthus batrachopus

Phenology Flowering May–Jul. Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat Serpentine substrates in grasslands, openings chaparral, oak and pine woodlands Serpentine barrens and outcrops in chaparral
Elevation 200-1900 m (700-6200 ft) 100-600 m (300-2000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Streptanthus polygaloides is highly variable in plant height, flower color, fruit size, and dissection of basal leaves. Further studies may lead to recognition of infraspecific taxa. The species is distributed in Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Mariposa, Nevada, Sierra, Tuolumne, and Yuba counties.

Streptanthus polygaloides is one of the few nickel hyperaccumulators in the flora area, and it averages 2,430–18,600 µg/g dry weight (R. D. Reeves et al. 1981; A. R. Kruckeberg and Reeves 1995).

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

Of conservation concern.

Streptanthus batrachopus is known from Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County.

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

Source FNA vol. 7, p. 720. FNA vol. 7, p. 705.
Parent taxa Brassicaceae > tribe Thelypodieae > Streptanthus Brassicaceae > tribe Thelypodieae > Streptanthus
Sibling taxa
S. barbatus, S. barbiger, S. batrachopus, S. bernardinus, S. brachiatus, S. bracteatus, S. breweri, S. callistus, S. campestris, S. carinatus, S. cordatus, S. cutleri, S. diversifolius, S. drepanoides, S. farnsworthianus, S. fenestratus, S. glandulosus, S. gracilis, S. hesperidis, S. hispidus, S. howellii, S. hyacinthoides, S. insignis, S. longisiliquus, S. maculatus, S. morrisonii, S. oblanceolatus, S. oliganthus, S. petiolaris, S. platycarpus, S. squamiformis, S. tortuosus, S. vernalis, S. vimineus
S. barbatus, S. barbiger, S. bernardinus, S. brachiatus, S. bracteatus, S. breweri, S. callistus, S. campestris, S. carinatus, S. cordatus, S. cutleri, S. diversifolius, S. drepanoides, S. farnsworthianus, S. fenestratus, S. glandulosus, S. gracilis, S. hesperidis, S. hispidus, S. howellii, S. hyacinthoides, S. insignis, S. longisiliquus, S. maculatus, S. morrisonii, S. oblanceolatus, S. oliganthus, S. petiolaris, S. platycarpus, S. polygaloides, S. squamiformis, S. tortuosus, S. vernalis, S. vimineus
Synonyms Microsemia polygaloides
Name authority A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 6: 519. (1865) J. L. Morrison: Madroño 4: 204, plate 31, figs. 20–28. (1938)
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