Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Perennial herbs.

Stems: Stems (2–)4–15(–20) dm, densely pubescent proximally, trichomes retrorse.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple and pinnatifid. Alternate, basal and cauline. Basal leaves (3–)4–22(–35) cm × 15–60(–80) mm, ovate or lanceolate, (smaller than terminal), terminal lobe broadly ovate; cauline leaves blade oblong to lanceolate, similar to basal, (smaller distally). Basal leaves lobes 1–6(–9) each side. Surfaces of basal leaves densely pubescent. Margins lyrate to pinnatifid, margins crenate–dentate. Petioles of basal leaves1–4(–10) cm; distal cauline leaves ± sessile. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in racemes (corymbose, several-flowered), considerably elongated in fruit. fruiting pedicels erect, stout. Flowers bisexual (perfect), fruiting pedicels (appressed to rachis, almost as thick as fruit), 2–4(–5) mm. Calyx of 4 sepals, sepals widely spreading or reflexed, 3–5 × 1.2–2 mm. long, oblong, lateral pair not saccate basally. Corolla of 4 petals; petals 5–10 × 2.5–4.5 mm. Stamens 6, tetradynamous; filaments not dilated basally, 3–5 mm; anthers 1–1.5 mm. Ovary superior; style present; stigma capitate, entire.

Fruit: Fruit 0.7–1.5(–1.7) cm × 1–1.7 mm; valves 6–10 mm; terminal segment 3–6 mm. Seeds 0.9–1.5 mm diam.

Ploidy: 2n = 14

Habitat: Roadsides; waste places; disturbed areas; canyons; creek bottoms; dry fields; open desert.

Elevation Range: 100–1600 m.