Rorippa columbiae
Encyclopedia
Rorippa columbiae is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family
known by the common name Columbia yellowcress. It is native to the western United States from central Washington to northern California
, where it grows in moist to wet, sandy habitat types, such as playa
. It is not a common plant; it is known from about fifteen occurrences in California, it is a candidate for protection in Oregon
, and it is state-listed as a threatened species in Washington. It is a perennial herb growing prostrate to erect, its densely hairy stems reaching 10 to 40 centimeters in maximum length. The leaves are deeply lobed, the lobes sometimes cut all the way to the midrib. Lower leaves are borne on petioles
; upper leaves have bases that clasp the stem. The mustardlike flowers have small yellow petals. The fruit is a plump, hairy silique
a few millimeters long containing many minute 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 Columbia yellowcress. It is native to the western United States from central Washington to northern 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 grows in moist to wet, sandy habitat types, such as playa
Dry lake
Dry lakes are ephemeral lakebeds, or a remnant of an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts. Dry lakes are also referred to as alkali flats, sabkhas, playas or mud flats...
. It is not a common plant; it is known from about fifteen occurrences in California, it is a candidate for protection in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, and it is state-listed as a threatened species in Washington. It is a perennial herb growing prostrate to erect, its densely hairy stems reaching 10 to 40 centimeters in maximum length. The leaves are deeply lobed, the lobes sometimes cut all the way to the midrib. Lower leaves are borne on petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
; upper leaves have bases that clasp the stem. The mustardlike flowers have small yellow petals. The fruit is a plump, hairy 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...
a few millimeters long containing many minute seeds.