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Physaria species [Brassicaceae]

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Scientific Name Physaria argyraea ssp. argyraea (Lesquerella argyraea) USDA PLANTS Symbol LEAR3
Common Name Silver Bladderpod ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 823388
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Sandy granitic or calcareous soils in central and south Texas.
Plant: Small herbaceous perennial or biennial with upright or reclining stems, usually less than 12 inches tall; stems and leaves with many small hairs giving a silvery appearance.
Leaves: Basal leaves dropping early, oblanceolate 2 to 3-1/2 inches long on long petioles; stem leaves elliptic to obovate 1/4 to 1-3/4 inches long, lower ones short petiolate, upper sessile; margins entire, sinuate or dentate.
Inflorescence: Yellow flowers 1/4 to 3/4-inch across with 4 spatulate or obovate petals and 4 oblong to elliptic sepals; flowers on recurved or S-shaped pedicels 5/8 to 1-3/16 inches long.
Bloom Period: February to May.
References: Floral of North America, "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native
Scientific Name Physaria densiflora (Lesquerella densiflora) USDA PLANTS Symbol LEDE2
Common Name Dense-flower Bladderpod, Low Bladderpod ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 823076
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Sandy, calcareous or granitic soils; sandy ledges, limestone outcrops, rocky prairies in Central Texas.
Plant: Annual or biennial with one to several erect, decumbent or sometimes prostrate stems up to 16 inches long, creating a low carpet of golden-yellow flowers along roadsides; stems and leaves with dense covering of fine stellate (star-shaped) hairs.
Leaves: Basal leaves oblanceolate to obovate, deeply lobed and 3/8 to 2-3/4 inches long, on long petioles; stem leaves up to 2-3/8 inches long, narrowly obovate to elliptic on short petioles or sessile, margins are wavy (repand) to having a couple shallow teeth on each side.
Inflorescence: Dense terminal racemes of numerous yellow to orange flowers each 1/4 to 1/2-inch across; 4 obovate to obdeltate petals and 4 elliptic sepals.
Bloom Period: March to May.
Fruit: Round to obovoid capsules up to 1/4-inch across on straight, spreading to nearly horizontal pedicels 3/8 to 5/8-inch long.
References: Flora of North America, "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston.

Texas Status:
Native
Endemic
Scientific Name Physaria fendleri (Lesquerella fendleri) USDA PLANTS Symbol LEFE
Common Name Fendler's Bladderpod ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 823239
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Dry sandy, rocky, calcareous soils; prairies, slopes and mesas.
Plant: Short sprawling perennial with several stems up to 16 inches long, sometimes branched; stems and leaves with many small hairs giving a silvery appearance.
Leaves: Basal leaves (if present) up to 3 inches long and 1/2-inch wide, linear to elliptic, petiolate, margins entire or coarsely dentate; stem leaves alternate, up to 1 inch long, short-petiolate, linear to narrowly oblanceolate, margins entire or coarsely dentate.
Inflorescence: Terminal raceme with bright yellow flowers up to 1 inch across with 4 spreading petals and 4 oblong to elliptic sepals.
Bloom Period: February to August.
Fruit: Smooth round capsules about 0.2 to 0.3 inches long with a slightly pointed tip; often becoming reddish with age.
References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Geyata Ajilvsgi and SEINet.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native
Scientific Name Physaria gordonii (Lesquerella gordonii) USDA PLANTS Symbol LEGO
Common Name Gordon's Bladderpod ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 823240
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Sandy or light soils in rocky plains, caprock ledges, gravelly brushland, sandy desert washes, stream bottoms, pastures, roadsides.
Plant: Upright annual with several erect to decumbent, branched or unbranched stems; 18 inches tall; dense, short hairs covering stems and leaves.
Leaves: Basal leaves elliptic to obovate 3/4 to 2 inches long, petiolate and margins lyrate-pinnatifid, or entire or dentate; stem leaves linear to oblanceolate 3/8 to 2-3/4 inches long, lower ones sometimes short-petiolate, upper sessile, margins of lower leaves repand or shallowly dentate, upper leaves entire.
Inflorescence: Dense terminal racemes of numerous yellow to orange flowers each about 1/2-inch across; 4 cuneate to obovate petals and 4 elliptic or oblong sepals.
Bloom Period: March to June.
Fruit: Globular to ellipsoid capsules up to 1/3-inch across on straight, S-shaped or recurved pedicels 3/8 to 1-3/16 inches long.
References: SEINet, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native
Scientific Name Physaria gracilis (Lesquerella gracilis) USDA PLANTS Symbol LEGR2
Common Name Cloth-of-gold, Spreading Bladderpod ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 823260
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard) Flora of North America Ref. Click Here
Description Habitat: Sandy or calcareous clay soils in pastures, prairies, roadsides and disturbed areas.
Plant: Upright to sprawling, delicate to wirey, annual to 20 inches tall with several pubescent stems, usually branched.
Leaves: Basal leaves narrowly oblanceolate to obovate to about 3 inches long, petiolate and margins entire to lyrate; stem leaves linear to oblanceolate 3/8 to 2 inches long, sessile, and margins entire to dentate.
Inflorescence: Dense terminal racemes of numerous yellow to orange flowers each about 1/2-inch across; 4 cuneate to obovate petals and 4 elliptic or oblong sepals.
Bloom Period: March to June.
Fruit: Round to ellipsoid capsules up to 1/3-inch across on straight or slightly curved pedicels 3/8 to 3/4-inch long.
References: Flora of North America, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Geyata Ajilvsgi and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston.

Texas Status:
Native
Scientific Name Physaria recurvata (Lesquerella recurvata) USDA PLANTS Symbol LERE4
Common Name Gaslight Bladderpod ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 823233
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Limestone outcrops and gravelly calcareous prairies in Central Texas.
Plant: Weak, sprawling annual with multiple stems 8 to 20 inches long.
Leaves: Basal leaves 1 to 2 inches long, elliptic to rhombic, may be dentate or pinnatifid; stem leaves 3/4 to 1-3/4-inches long, obovate to elliptic, margins smooth or slightly dentate.
Inflorescence: Small bright yellow star-shaped flowers along and at end of stems, 1/8 to 1/4-inch across; 4 petals and sepals, 6 stamens; wide open in full sun and closing at night.
Fruit: Round seed pods about 1/8-inch in diameter on recurved (bent) pedicels.
Bloom Period: March-May.
References: "500 Wild Flowers of San Antonio and Vicinity" by Ellen Schulz Quillin and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston.

Texas Status:
Native

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© Tom Lebsack 2023