Streptanthella longirostris

Stems often several, ascending distally, (1.2-)2-6 (-7.5) dm. Basal leaves soon withered. Cauline leaves shortly petiolate or (distal) sessile; blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, or (distal) linear, 2-5.5(-6.5) cm × 3-10(-15) mm, (attenuate to petiolelike base), margins entire, dentate to sinuate, or pinnatifid, (distal cauline (1-)1.7-5.8(-7) cm × (0.7-)1.5-4(-7) mm, base cuneate to attenuate, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute). Fruiting pedicels usually curved, rarely straight, (1-)2-5 (-7) mm. Flowers: sepals (2-)2.5-4(-5) × 0.7-1.5 mm; petals (3.5-)4-6(-7) × 0.7-1.1 mm, claw oblanceolate, 3-5 mm (longer than blade); filaments with at least dorsal pair exserted, (longest pair) 3-6 mm; anthers 0.5-1(-1.3) mm. Fruits slightly to strongly reflexed, sometimes secund, (2.5-)3.5-6(-7) cm × 1.5-2(-2.2) mm; valve apex adnate with style and replum, forming indehiscent tip, often 1-seeded; style (2-)3.5-6(-8) mm. Seeds light brown, 2-3 × 1-1.7(-2) mm; wing 0.3-0.7 mm wide. 2n = 28.

Flowering early Jan-late Jun. Roadsides, rocky areas, sandy ridges, sagebrush and creosote bush deserts, dry slopes, dry washes, decomposed granitic soil, pinyon-juniper areas, alluvial fans, chaparral, sandstone gravel and outcrops, sandstone hills and cliffs; 60-2200 m; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora).

Streptanthella longirostris is most widely distributed in southern California, Nevada, and southern and central Utah, and appears to be restricted elsewhere: Colorado (Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, San Miguel), Idaho (Butte), Montana (Carbon), New Mexico (San Juan), Washington (Franklin, Grant), and Wyoming (Fremont, Natrona, Sweetwater, Uinta).

Jepson 1993, Martin and Hutchins 1980, Kearney and Peebles 1969

Duration: Annual Nativity: Native Lifeform: Forb/Herb General: Annual with stems to 60 cm tall, glabrous to glaucous. Leaves: Basal leaves spatulate to oblanceolate, 2-5 cm long, sinuate-dentate margins, rarely lobed; cauline leaves linear, clasping stems or not, generally entire. Flowers: Sepals 2-3 mm, upper surface greenish to purple, lower surface white; petals 3-5 mm, narrowly spoon-shaped, white to yellowish with purple veins, blades wavy; anthers less than 1 mm, generally exserted. Fruits: Pendant, 35-45 mm, 1.5 mm wide, linear, flat parallel to septum; pedicel reflexed, 1.5-3 mm, narrowing to beak-like tip. Ecology: Found on sandy to alkaline soils from 4,500-7,000 ft (1372-2134 m); flowers January-June. Notes: In flower this is a distinctive plant with its bulbous bottom, narrowed throat, and reflexed tips. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Streptanthella is a diminutive form of Streptanthus, which means twisted flower, while longirostris means long beaked. Synonyms: Streptanthella longirostris var. direlicta Editor: SBuckley, 2010