Arabis glabra

 Tower Mustard

Pod Cross Section
Cypress Hills, West Block, just below plateau
09-July-2003

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Glabra:  Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.  
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plants tall

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plants glabrous and glaucous above

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petals yellowish white (FOA)

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mature fruiting pedicels erect to ascending, never horizontal or reflexed

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siliques erect to ascending

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siliques terete or semi-terete

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siliques about 1 mm wide

 
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Arabis: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 

 Note that Budd's Flora (BF) requires the flowers to be both yellow and greenish to yellowish white.  Flora of Alberta (FOA) requires the petals to be white or purplish, not yellow.  In fact, the petals are greenish or yellowish white, occasionally with purple tips.

Note that Flora of Alberta (FOA) requires the pods to be flat.  In fact, they are almost circular in cross section.
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plants more or less pubescent (at least below)

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hairs at least in part branched; NOT attached at the middle

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leaves simple

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stem leaves entire to dentate, not lobed

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stem leaves broad with a sagittate base

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flowers yellow (BF)

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flowers greenish to yellowish white (BF)

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petals white or purplish (FOA)

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petals smaller than 15 to 25 mm long

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fruit pod-like (silique or silicle)

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fruit dehiscent by 2 valves

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pods NOT compressed at right angles to the central partition

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pods linear; NOT lanceolate to narrowly oblong

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pods commonly flat, not torulose (FOA)

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pods usually at least 4 times as long as wide

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pods 1.5-12 cm long

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pods scarcely beaked

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septum NOT cross-striolate under high magnification

 
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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