Erysimum cheiranthoides

 Wormseed Mustard

Leaf Top
Confluence of S. Antler and Souris Rivers
15-June-2003

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

pubescence of leaves mostly of trifid hairs; NOT bifid hairs

flowers yellow, NOT purple

flowers smaller than 2-4 cm across

petals 3-5 mm long; NOT 6-20 mm long

stalks of seedpods almost half as long as pods; NOT less than one-quarter as long

siliques 1-3 cm long; NOT 2-10 cm long

 

Erysimum: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.  Note that there is almost a contradiction in the answers from Flora of Alberta (FOA) regarding whether the leaves are entire or not.  The leaves in this specimen are slightly toothed.

plants more or less pubescent

stem hairs attached by the middle, appressed

leaves NOT oval to elliptical, NOT entire (FOA)

leaves simple, entire or slightly toothed (FOA)

basal leaves NOT lyrate-pinnatifid

cauline leaves NOT cordate-clasping

stem leaves entire to dentate, not lobed (BF)

flowers yellow

petals less than 7 mm long

fruit pod-like (silique or silicle)

pod dehiscent by 2 valves

pods not compressed at right angles to the central partition

pod more than 4 times as long as broad

pod with a short slender beak or beakless

seeds in 1 row in each locule

seeds globose, ovoid or ellipsoid; NOT flattish

 

Cruciferae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.

herbs

plants terrestrial or semi-aquatic

plants not with colored milky juice

plants with more than one normal leaf

leaves without stipules, or having glands

some or all leaves alternate

calyx regular

4 sepals

corolla regular in shape

4 petals

stamens usually 6, 4 long and 2 short

ovary superior

1 or 2 carpels