12.
Caulanthus inflatus
S. Watson, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts. 17: 364. 1882.
Streptanthus inflatus
(S. Watson) Greene
Annuals;
glabrous or sparsely (or densely) pilose basally.
Stems
erect, unbranched or branched distally, (hollow, strongly inflated, fusiform, to 4 cm diam. at widest point), 1.5-9.7 dm.
Basal leaves
rosulate; petiole 0.5-5 cm; blade obovate to oblanceolate, 1-13 cm × 5-60 mm, margins entire or dentate-sinuate.
Cauline leaves
(distalmost) sessile; blade ovate to lanceolate, 1-20 cm × 5-70 mm (base amplexicaul), margins entire.
Racemes
(densely flowered), without a terminal cluster of sterile flowers.
Fruiting pedicels
ascending to divaricate, 3-12 mm, sparsely to densely pilose, or glabrous.
Flowers:
sepals erect, (dark purple at least apically, whitish basally), narrowly ovate to lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 5.5-14 × 2-3 mm (unequal, adaxial one slightly smaller or narrower, keeled); petals purple, 9-14 mm, blade 3-4 × 1.5-2 mm, crisped, claw oblanceolate to oblong, 6-10 × 1.5-3 mm; filaments in 3 unequal pairs, (median pairs connate), abaxial pair 4-8 mm, lateral pair 3-5 mm, adaxial pair 7-10 mm; anthers narrowly oblong, equal, 2-4 mm.
Fruits
erect to ascending, terete, 3.5-12.7 cm × 2-3 mm; valves each with prominent midvein; ovules 58-82 per ovary; style obsolete or, rarely, to 0.4 mm; stigma strongly 2-lobed (lobes opposite valves).
Seeds
1.5-3 × 0.7-1.7 mm.
2
n
= 28.
Flowering Feb-Jun. Desert plains, dry hillsides; 150-1500 m; Calif.
Caulanthus inflatus
is found in central and southern California.
