Streptanthus tortuosus
Encyclopedia
Streptanthus tortuosus is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family
known by the common names shieldleaf and shieldplant. It is native to the mountains of northern and central California
, its distribution extending just into Oregon
and Nevada
. It grows in rocky and sandy areas in forests and woodland habitat. It is highly variable in appearance and some authors divide it into many subtaxa. In general, it is a biennial or perennial herb growing a few centimeters to over a meter tall. It is hairless and often waxy in texture. The basal leaves have oval blades borne on winged petioles
, and leaves higher on the stem may be longer and narrower, sometimes clasping the stem at the bases. Flowers occur at intervals along the upper stem, and there is usually a leaflike bract below them. Each flower has an urn-shaped calyx of sepal
s in shades of purple or greenish yellow with four petals emerging from the tip. The fruit is a long, thin, curving silique
up to 12 to 16 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 shieldleaf and shieldplant. It is native to the mountains of northern and central 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...
, its distribution extending just into 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 Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. It grows in rocky and sandy areas in forests and woodland habitat. It is highly variable in appearance and some authors divide it into many subtaxa. In general, it is a biennial or perennial herb growing a few centimeters to over a meter tall. It is hairless and often waxy in texture. The basal leaves have oval blades borne on winged 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...
, and leaves higher on the stem may be longer and narrower, sometimes clasping the stem at the bases. Flowers occur at intervals along the upper stem, and there is usually a leaflike bract below them. Each flower has an urn-shaped calyx of 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 in shades of purple or greenish yellow with four petals emerging from the tip. The fruit is a long, thin, curving 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 12 to 16 centimeters long.