Caulanthus simulans
Encyclopedia
Caulanthus simulans is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family
known by the common names Payson's wild cabbage and Payson's jewelflower. It is endemic to southern California
, where it is known mainly from open, dry habitat in the hills and deserts of Riverside
and San Diego Counties
. It is a bristly annual herb with deeply cut leaves, the longest arranged in cluster around the base of the stem. The flower is covered in thick, purple-tinted greenish sepal
s which split to reveal narrow, pale yellow petals at the tip. The fruit is a silique
up to 8 centimeters long.
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 names Payson's wild cabbage and Payson's jewelflower. It is endemic to southern 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...
, where it is known mainly from open, dry habitat in the hills and deserts of Riverside
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
and San Diego Counties
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
. It is a bristly annual herb with deeply cut leaves, the longest arranged in cluster around the base of the stem. The flower is covered in thick, purple-tinted greenish sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s which split to reveal narrow, pale yellow petals at the tip. The fruit is a 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...
up to 8 centimeters long.