Phoenicaulis

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Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Phoenicaulis
Nutt.
Species:
P. cheiranthoides
Binomial name
Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides

Phoenicaulis is a monotypic genus[1] of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae found in western North America. It contains the single species Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides, which is known by the common names daggerpod and wallflower phoenicaulis. The genus name means 'reddish-purple stems', probably in reference to the tendency for the stems to take on such a color, and the species name means 'hand of flowers'.[2]

Description

The species is a perennial herb producing one or more stems up to 25 to 30 centimetres (9+7⁄8 to 11+3⁄4 in) tall from a caudex. The basal leaves are narrowly lance-shaped to teardrop-shaped, up to 10 cm long, and woolly in texture. Leaves higher on the stem are shorter and usually less hairy. The inflorescence is a raceme of flowers[3] with purple or pink petals up to about 1.5 cm long.[1] The fruits are narrow, hairless siliques up to 9 cm long,[3] and stick out from the stem on pedicels.[2]

Range and Habitat

The plant grows in many types of habitat, especially rocky areas. It occurs in sagebrush scrub, scree, exposed volcanic and clay slopes, rock outcrops, hills, banks, and meadows. In the southern part of its range it also grows in the alpine climate of high mountains.[3][4] It grows at up to 3200 meters in elevation[1] and flowers early in spring.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides. The Jepson eFlora 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) [1992]. Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. p. 90. ISBN 0-87842-280-3. OCLC 25708726.
  3. 1 2 3 Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides. Flora of North America.
  4. ↑ Blackwell, L. R. (2002), Wildflowers of the Eastern Sierra and adjoining Mojave Desert and Great Basin, Lone Pine Publishing
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