Polanisia dodecatheon
 
Clammyweed

Mid-Lower Leaf Bottom

Qu'Appelle Valley North of Grenfell
18-July-2017

Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta place genus Polanisia in family Capparidaceae.  However, this genus has been moved to family Cleomaceae in light of more recent research.  The Cleomaceae are closely related to the Brassicaceae and diverged from them about 41 million years ago.  Polanisia dodecatheon grows in gravelly or sandy soil and sand grains often get trapped on the viscid surface of the plant.

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Polanisia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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plants viscid-puberulent; NOT [plants glabrous or nearly so]

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stamens 8-32; NOT [stamens 6]

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pods on a very short stalk above the calyx; NOT [pods borne on a stalk about 10 mm long above the calyx]

 

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Capparidaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family. 
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herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

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plants terrestrial or semiaquatic; NOT [plants aquatic; leaves submerged or floating]

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annuals

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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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some or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled or basal]

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leaves without stipules, or having glands; NOT [leaves with stipules]

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flowers with two floral rings

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calyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]

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sepals 4; NOT [sepals 4-8]

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each petal distinct from the others

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stamens usually more than 10; NOT [stamens 10 or fewer]

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carpels united; NOT [carpels separate]

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fruit a pod; NOT [fruit a capsule opening at top]