Streptanthus batrachopus
Streptanthus batrachopus is a rare species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name Mt. Tamalpais jewelflower.[1] It is endemic to Marin County, California, where it is known only from Mt. Tamalpais and surrounding terrain. There are fewer than ten known occurrences.[2]
| Streptanthus batrachopus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Streptanthus |
| Species: | S. batrachopus |
| Binomial name | |
| Streptanthus batrachopus J.L.Morrison | |
Its habitat includes chaparral and coniferous forest, generally on serpentine soils.
Description
It is an annual herb producing a branching or unbranched stem up to about 20 centimeters in maximum height or slightly taller. Leaves near the base of the stem are oval or lance-shaped with toothed edges, somewhat fleshy in texture with a mottled pattern, and no more than 2 to 3 centimeters long. Leaves farther up the stem are lance-shaped.
Flowers occur at intervals along the upper stem. Each has an urn-shaped calyx of purple or greenish sepals up to half a centimeter long. Purple or purple-streaked white petals emerge from the tip. The fruit is a straight or curving silique up to 3 centimeters in length.
References
- USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Streptanthus batrachopus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- The Nature Conservancy