Smelowskia pyriformis

Plants sometimes canescent throughout; caudex simple. Stems: usually several, rarely simple from base, usually unbranched, rarely branched, 0.5-2.4(-3) dm, trichomes simple, to 1.3 mm, mixed with smaller, dendritic ones. Basal leaves: petiole 1-4 cm, often ciliate, trichomes simple; blade broadly ovate to oblong in outline, (terminal segments oblong to or ovate), 1-2.2 cm × 8-15 mm, (terminal segments 0.4-1 cm × 1.5-3 mm), margins pinnatifid, apex obtuse. Cauline leaves shortly petiolate or sessile; blade similar to basal, smaller distally. Racemes considerably elongated in fruit. Fruiting pedicels ascending to divaricate-ascending, (often forming less than 40˚ angle), proximalmost bracteate, 5-15(-20) mm, pubescent, trichomes simple (to 1.4 mm), mixed with smaller, dendritic ones. Flowers: sepals 1.2-2.2 mm; petals purple, lavender, or white, suborbicular to obovate, 2.5-4.5 × 1-2.5 mm, narrowed to claw, 1-2 mm, apex rounded; anthers ovate, 0.3-0.5 mm. Fruits ascending, pyriform, subterete, 5-9 × 2.5-4 mm, base cuneate, apex rounded; valves each with prominent midvein; ovules 4 per ovary; style 0.4-1.2 mm. Seeds (oblong-lanceolate) 2.5-3.2 × 1-1.5 mm. 2n = 12.

Flowering Jun-Aug. Loose talus, scree slopes, shale ridgetops, limestone volcanic rubble, mixed sandstone-siltstone-carbonate scree; of conservation concern; 600-1700 m; Alaska.