Arabis lemmonii
Encyclopedia
Arabis lemmonii is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family
known by the common name Lemmon's rockcress. It is native to western North America from Alaska
to California
to Colorado
, where it grows in a number of rocky habitat types. This is a perennial herb growing many small stems from a branching, hairy caudex
. The slender stems rest against the ground or are somewhat upright, reaching up to 20 centimeters in length. The caudex is surrounded by a rosette of hairy leaves one or two centimeters long. There are a few smaller leaves along the stem as well. The inflorescence
bears pink to purple flowers which yield narrow silique
s up to 4 centimeters long containing round, winged seeds.
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family....
known by the common name Lemmon's rockcress. It is native to western North America from Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, where it grows in a number of rocky habitat types. This is a perennial herb growing many small stems from a branching, hairy caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
. The slender stems rest against the ground or are somewhat upright, reaching up to 20 centimeters in length. The caudex is surrounded by a rosette of hairy leaves one or two centimeters long. There are a few smaller leaves along the stem as well. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
bears pink to purple flowers which yield narrow silique
Silique
A silique or siliqua is a fruit of 2 fused carpels with the length being more than three times the width. The outer walls of the ovary usually separate when ripe, leaving a persistent partition...
s up to 4 centimeters long containing round, winged seeds.