Streptanthus campestris
Encyclopedia
Streptanthus campestris is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family
known by the common name southern jewelflower. It is native to southern California
and northern Baja California
, where it is known from fewer than 20 occurrences scattered between San Bernardino County, California
, and Sierra de San Pedro Mártir in northern Baja. It grows in mountain chaparral
, woodlands, and forests, at elevation
s up to 2300 meters (7545 feet). It is a perennial herb producing a thick, few-branched stem up to 1.5 meters tall or more. The basal leaves have fleshy oval blades with bristly, toothed edges which are borne on petioles
. Leaves farther up the stem are lance-shaped with smooth or wavy edges and bases that clasp the stem. Flowers occur at intervals on the upper stem. Each has a bell-shaped calyx of bristle-lined purple sepal
s with four purple tipped yellow petals emerging from the tip. The fruit is a narrow, curving or straight silique
which may reach 14 centimeters in length.
The already uncommon plant is moderately threatened by further habitat fragmentation
.
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family....
known by the common name southern jewelflower. It is native to southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and northern Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, where it is known from fewer than 20 occurrences scattered between San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
, and Sierra de San Pedro Mártir in northern Baja. It grows in mountain chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
, woodlands, and forests, at elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
s up to 2300 meters (7545 feet). It is a perennial herb producing a thick, few-branched stem up to 1.5 meters tall or more. The basal leaves have fleshy oval blades with bristly, toothed edges which are borne on petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. Leaves farther up the stem are lance-shaped with smooth or wavy edges and bases that clasp the stem. Flowers occur at intervals on the upper stem. Each has a bell-shaped calyx of bristle-lined purple sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s with four purple tipped yellow petals emerging from the tip. The fruit is a narrow, curving or straight silique
Silique
A silique or siliqua is a fruit of 2 fused carpels with the length being more than three times the width. The outer walls of the ovary usually separate when ripe, leaving a persistent partition...
which may reach 14 centimeters in length.
The already uncommon plant is moderately threatened by further habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation as the name implies, describes the emergence of discontinuities in an organism's preferred environment , causing population fragmentation...
.