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Mountain Wildflowers

Mustard Family: Brassicaceae

Western wallflower, Erysimum asperum (Nutt.) DC. var. elatum (Nutt.) Torr. (left). Half a dozen varieties of western wallflower are recognized. Ours grows on rocky slopes—often on talus—at mid- to subalpine elevations. Its growth habit and its large, showy, yellow-orange flowerheads identify this attractive plant. After the petals fall away, its flowers form “siliques,” slim seed-containing pods. The generic name, Erysimum, was used by the Greeks for a related plant. Lewis and Clark collected the western wallflower while camped near present-day Kamiah, Idaho, on 1 June, 1806. (Our plant is sometimes classified as Erysimum capitatum (Douglas ex Hook.) Greene var purshii (Durand) Rollins.)
Wormseed mustard, Erysimum cheiranthoides L. (right). The wormseed mustard is a Eurasian erysimum that prefers moist situations. The flowerheads are similar to those of other erysimums, supported by thick stems that bear alternating leaves ranging in shape from lanceolate to ovoid. Its siliques are long and thin and the crushed seeds apparently are an effective treatment for intestinal worms. The latter property explains the “wormseed” in its common names.

Alpine bladderpod, Physaria reediana O’Kane & Al-Shehbaz (left). The alpine bladderpod, formerly Lesquerella alpina (Nutt.) S. Watson, blooms in the spring on dry, subalpine ridges. The common name “bladderpod” is derived from the plants’ round fruiting bodies (not obvious in the illustration).
Western bladderpod, Physaria occidentalis (S. Watson) O’Kane & Al-Shehbaz (right). The western bladderpod (previously Lesquerella occidentale S. Watson) is a small, more common plant than the alpine bladderpod shown on the left. It grows on gravelly ground from mid-elevations to subalpine slopes. Spoon-shaped leaves are unique to this species and serve to identify it, as does the centrifugal growth pattern of the clusters.

Common twinpod, Physaria didymocarpa (Hook.) A. Gray (right). This little plant is unusual for its fruit is split into two short, joined pods. It can also be identified by its basal cluster of furry, gray-green, ovoid leaves and its four-petaled bright yellow flowers. Look for the twinpod at higher elevations in our mountains, on dry, gravelly ground. The name Physaria is from a Greek word meaning “bladder” or “bellows” for the shape of the silicle (fruiting body). The species name, didymocarpa, is also from the Greek and means “twin fruit.” Three varieties are recognized, the one shown here, var. didymocarpa, grows in Idaho.

Alpine smelowskia, Smelowskia americana (Regel & Herder) Rydb. (left). The alpine smelowskia (until recently classified as Smelowskia calycina) has hairy, variably pinnate basal leaves, three-lobed terminal leaflets, ovoid narrow-based petals and quite prominent anthers and styles. Its fruit is ovoid with a protruberant tip. The plant prefers rocky alpine and subalpine terrain. The name honors Timotheus Smelowski (1770-1815), a Russian botanist.
Idaho candytuft, Noccaea fendleri (A. Gray) Holub var. idahoense (Payson) F. K. Mey. (right). Two native thlaspis, formerly varieties of Thlaspi fendleri, have recently been reclassified into separate species of another genus: Noccaea montanum and Nocceaea fendleri. The latter is the plant shown here (formerly classified as Thlaspi idahoense Payson). The leaves of the former are rounder and have well developed leaf stems, whereas the leaves of the Idaho candytuft, are more lanceolate and taper to attach directly to the main stem. Our plant is found only in the mountains of central Idaho, whereas the alpine species grows in all of the western states. The name Noccaea honors Domenico Nocca (1758-1841) an Italian clergyman and botanist.

Weedy crucifers: Many crucifers in our mountains are weeds; some are Eurasian imports. Several are shown here.
Western tansy mustard, Descurainia pinnata (Walter) Britton (left). All descurainias are weeds. The one shown here is very common, growing to mid-elevations. It has clusters of small four-petaled yellow flowers, erect siliques (just forming here) and pinnate (featherlike) leaves. A relative, the common flixweed, (Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl) is a Eurasian weed, that has spread throughout America. The flixweed can be distinguished from native species for it has bi- or tri-pinnate feathery leaves. The genus Descurainia was named for French botanist François Descurain (1658-1740).
Whitetop, Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. (right). The whitetop, (also heartpod hoary cress) has compact, flat-topped flower clusters that bloom from the outside in. It is further identified by its rather succulent serrated leaves and heart-shaped silicles (fruit). It is a ubiquitous plant, growing at least to mid-elevations, blooming from early spring through the summer, sometimes forming immense patches on disturbed ground.

Blue mustard, Chorispora tenella (Pall.) DC. (left). This common weed—it is sometimes known as the “cross-flower”— is easily identified, for there is no other crucifer in our area with similar small, four-petaled, light-purple flowers. It seems to be spreading rapidly in Idaho. The name Chorispora, derived from two Greek words, means “separate seed” for the configuration of the seeds in the plant’s silique. If cows browse on blue mustard, their milk will have an unpleasant taste.
Field pennycress, Thlaspi arvense L. (right). Field pennycress grows, often in great numbers, on disturbed dry ground. It is so common a weed that most will recognize it at first glance. Its common name, “pennycress,” is derived from its disc-shaped silicles. The shepherd’s purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik., is a similar Eurasian import. Not shown here, it takes its name from similar, triangular, fruiting bodies.

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	*Western wallflower, Erysimum asperum* (Nutt.) DC. var. elatum (Nutt.) Torr.** (left). Half a dozen varieties of western wallflower are recognized. Ours grows on rocky slopes—often on talus—at mid- to subalpine elevations. Its growth habit and its large, showy, yellow-orange flowerheads identify this attractive plant. After the petals fall away, its flowers form “siliques,” slim seed-containing pods. The generic name, Erysimum, was used by the Greeks for a related plant. Lewis and Clark collected the western wallflower while camped near present-day Kamiah, Idaho, on 1 June, 1806. (Our plant is sometimes classified as Erysimum capitatum (Douglas ex Hook.) Greene var purshii (Durand) Rollins.) *Wormseed mustard, Erysimum cheiranthoides* L**. (right). The wormseed mustard is a Eurasian erysimum that prefers moist situations. The flowerheads are similar to those of other erysimums, supported by thick stems that bear alternating leaves ranging in shape from lanceolate to ovoid. Its siliques are long and thin and the crushed seeds apparently are an effective treatment for intestinal worms. The latter property explains the “wormseed” in its common names.
	*Alpine bladderpod, Physaria reediana* O’Kane & Al-Shehbaz** (left). The alpine bladderpod, formerly Lesquerella alpina (Nutt.) S. Watson, blooms in the spring on dry, subalpine ridges. The common name “bladderpod” is derived from the plants’ round fruiting bodies (not obvious in the illustration). Western bladderpod, Physaria occidentalis (S. Watson) O’Kane & Al-Shehbaz (right). The western bladderpod (previously Lesquerella occidentale S. Watson) is a small, more common plant than the alpine bladderpod shown on the left. It grows on gravelly ground from mid-elevations to subalpine slopes. Spoon-shaped leaves are unique to this species and serve to identify it, as does the centrifugal growth pattern of the clusters.
*Common twinpod, Physaria didymocarpa* (Hook.) A. Gray** (right). This little plant is unusual for its fruit is split into two short, joined pods. It can also be identified by its basal cluster of furry, gray-green, ovoid leaves and its four-petaled bright yellow flowers. Look for the twinpod at higher elevations in our mountains, on dry, gravelly ground. The name Physaria is from a Greek word meaning “bladder” or “bellows” for the shape of the silicle (fruiting body). The species name, didymocarpa, is also from the Greek and means “twin fruit.” Three varieties are recognized, the one shown here, var. didymocarpa, grows in Idaho.
	*Alpine smelowskia, Smelowskia americana* (Regel & Herder) Rydb.** (left). The alpine smelowskia (until recently classified as Smelowskia calycina) has hairy, variably pinnate basal leaves, three-lobed terminal leaflets, ovoid narrow-based petals and quite prominent anthers and styles. Its fruit is ovoid with a protruberant tip. The plant prefers rocky alpine and subalpine terrain. The name honors Timotheus Smelowski (1770-1815), a Russian botanist. *Idaho candytuft, Noccaea fendleri* (A. Gray) Holub var. idahoense (Payson) F. K. Mey.** (right). Two native thlaspis, formerly varieties of Thlaspi fendleri, have recently been reclassified into separate species of another genus: Noccaea montanum and Nocceaea fendleri. The latter is the plant shown here (formerly classified as Thlaspi idahoense Payson). The leaves of the former are rounder and have well developed leaf stems, whereas the leaves of the Idaho candytuft, are more lanceolate and taper to attach directly to the main stem. Our plant is found only in the mountains of central Idaho, whereas the alpine species grows in all of the western states. The name Noccaea honors Domenico Nocca (1758-1841) an Italian clergyman and botanist.
	Weedy crucifers: Many crucifers in our mountains are weeds; some are Eurasian imports. Several are shown here. *Western tansy mustard, Descurainia pinnata* (Walter) Britton** (left). All descurainias are weeds. The one shown here is very common, growing to mid-elevations. It has clusters of small four-petaled yellow flowers, erect siliques (just forming here) and pinnate (featherlike) leaves. A relative, the common flixweed, (Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl) is a Eurasian weed, that has spread throughout America. The flixweed can be distinguished from native species for it has bi- or tri-pinnate feathery leaves. The genus Descurainia was named for French botanist François Descurain (1658-1740). *Whitetop, Cardaria draba* (L.) Desv.** (right). The whitetop, (also heartpod hoary cress) has compact, flat-topped flower clusters that bloom from the outside in. It is further identified by its rather succulent serrated leaves and heart-shaped silicles (fruit). It is a ubiquitous plant, growing at least to mid-elevations, blooming from early spring through the summer, sometimes forming immense patches on disturbed ground.
	*Blue mustard, Chorispora tenella* (Pall.) DC.** (left). This common weed—it is sometimes known as the “cross-flower”— is easily identified, for there is no other crucifer in our area with similar small, four-petaled, light-purple flowers. It seems to be spreading rapidly in Idaho. The name Chorispora, derived from two Greek words, means “separate seed” for the configuration of the seeds in the plant’s silique. If cows browse on blue mustard, their milk will have an unpleasant taste. *Field pennycress, Thlaspi arvense* L.** (right). Field pennycress grows, often in great numbers, on disturbed dry ground. It is so common a weed that most will recognize it at first glance. Its common name, “pennycress,” is derived from its disc-shaped silicles. The shepherd’s purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik., is a similar Eurasian import. Not shown here, it takes its name from similar, triangular, fruiting bodies.