Erysimum cheiranthoides

 Wormseed Mustard

Cross Section of Pod
Cypress Hills, West Block Campground
19-july-2003

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Cheiranthoides:  Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.  
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pubescence of leaves mostly of trifid hairs; NOT bifid hairs

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flowers yellow, NOT purple

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flowers smaller than 2-4 cm across

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petals 3-5 mm long; NOT 6-20 mm long

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stalks of seedpods almost half as long as pods; NOT less than one-quarter as long

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siliques 1-3 cm long; NOT 2-10 cm long

 
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Erysimum: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.  Note that there is almost a contradiction in the answers from Flora of Alberta (FOA) regarding whether the leaves are entire or not.  The leaves in this specimen are slightly toothed.
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plants more or less pubescent

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stem hairs attached by the middle, appressed

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leaves NOT oval to elliptical, NOT entire (FOA)

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leaves simple, entire or slightly toothed (FOA)

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basal leaves NOT lyrate-pinnatifid

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cauline leaves NOT cordate-clasping

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stem leaves entire to dentate, not lobed (BF)

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flowers yellow

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petals less than 7 mm long

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fruit pod-like (silique or silicle)

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pod dehiscent by 2 valves

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pods not compressed at right angles to the central partition

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pod more than 4 times as long as broad

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pod with a short slender beak or beakless

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seeds in 1 row in each locule

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seeds globose, ovoid or ellipsoid; NOT flattish

 
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Cruciferae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.
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herbs

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plants terrestrial or semi-aquatic

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plants not with colored milky juice

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plants with more than one normal leaf

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leaves without stipules, or having glands

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some or all leaves alternate

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calyx regular

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4 sepals

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corolla regular in shape

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4 petals

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stamens usually 6, 4 long and 2 short

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ovary superior

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1 or 2 carpels