Erysimum capitatum

Erysimum capitatum is a species of wallflower known commonly as the sanddune wallflower, western wallflower, or prairie rocket.

Erysimum capitatum

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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Erysimum
Species:
E. capitatum
Binomial name
Erysimum capitatum

This species can be found in regions across North America, from the Great Lakes to the West Coast of the United States. Some varieties have an extremely narrow distribution, especially those endemic to California.

Description

Erysimum capitatum is a mustard-like plant with thin, erect stems growing from a basal rosette and topped with dense bunches of variably colored flowers. Flowers are most typically bright golden, yellow, or tangerine-colored, but plants in some populations may have red, white or purple flowers. Each flower has four flat petals. Seed pods are nearly parallel to the stem.

Subspecies

There are varieties or subspecies of this plant. Some are listed endangered species. For example, Erysimum capitatum var. angustatum, the Contra Costa wallflower, is an endangered plant in the state of California. The varieties include:

  • E. c. var. angustatum—Contra Costa wallflower; endemic to California, endangered species.[1][2]
  • E. c. var. bealianum—Sanddune wallflower; Mojave Desert, California.[3]
  • E. c. var. capitatum—Western wallflower; flowers from May to July, widely distributed across Colorado and Utah.[4][5]
  • E. c. var. lompocense—San Luis Obispo wallflower; endemic to California.[6]
  • E. c. var. perenne (syn: Erysimum perenne)—Sanddune wallflower; endemic to California.[7]
  • E. c. var. purshii—Pursh's wallflower; Western United States.[8]
Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum, Olympic National Park, Washington.

Pollinators

Little information on this wallflower species relationship with pollinators exists. Andrew Moldenke studied a population of Erysimum capitatum var. perenne in Subalpine Talus Fell Scree of the Timberland Hall Area (2,900–3,500 metres (9,500–11,500 ft) elevation). He observed 13 species of flower visitors, although over 80% of the visits to the flowers were performed by two ant species, Formica lasioides and one from the Formica fusca group.

Cultivation

Erysimum capitatum is cultivated as an ornamental plant.[9] It is an attractive perennial, can be variable in appearance, and is used in butterfly gardening.

Uses

In Zuni ethnobotany, an infusion of the whole plant is used externally for muscle aches. The flower and the fruit are eaten as an emetic for stomachaches.[10]

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References
  1. Calflora: Erysimum capitatum var. angustatum
  2. CNPS Inventory: Endangered Plant details: Erysimum capitatum var. angustatum
  3. Calflora: Erysimum capitatum var. bealianum
  4. Utah Valley State College Herbarium
  5. "UVU Virtual Herbarium". Utah Valley University Herbarium. Utah Valley University. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  6. Calflora: Erysimum capitatum var. lompocense
  7. Calflora: Erysimum perenne
  8. Calflora: Erysimum capitatum var. purshii
  9. "Erysimum capitatum, Western Wallflower". Las Pilitas Nursery. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
  10. Camazine, Scott; Robert A. Bye (1980). "A Study Of The Medical Ethnobotany Of The Zuni Indians of New Mexico". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2 (4): 365–88. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(80)81017-8. PMID 6893476.
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