California Mustard
Guillenia lasiophylla
Caulanthus lasiophyllus
This image was produced by scanning from live specimen found near Saddle Mountain, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, March 1st, 2008.
FRUIT: Long, slender two-celled capsules deflex downward as they mature.
FLOWERS: Small white flowers are crowded at the top of the tall stem
which then elongates considerably as the fruit capsules mature.
SPRING ANNUAL: In years with good winter/spring rains. Sometimes as tall
as a meter with usu. one or a few stems.
LEAVES: Elyptic leaves are sharply lobed tend to be larger at base of
plant.
STEMS: Entirely herbaceous and ephemeral.
RANGE: Common across the Sonoran Desert on rocky slopes, in washes and
on flats depending on rainfall. Superficially this mustard looks like our two
introduced weedy species (London
Rocket (Sisymbrium irio) and
Sahara Mustard (Brassica tournefortii)). Neither of these have
white flowers nor the deflexed pods.
This is a highly variable lineage of mustards and has recieved many names for the various forms that appear across the western United States and in various habitats. Variable characteristics include degree of pubescence, flower size and overall structure. Another name that has been applied to this plant is Thelypodium lasiophyllum.
Brassicaceae -- Mustard Family
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More Information:
- Jepson Manual
- USDA Plant Profile
- ITIS Treatment
- Google Images
- Google Scholar Literature Search New Name
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- Google Scholar Literature Search Old Name 2!