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Toothed rockcress

Boechera dentata (Raf.) Al-Shehbaz

[=Arabis shortii (Fernald) Gleason ]

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Toothed rockcress
Toothed rockcress leaf
Toothed rockcress
Toothed rock cress flowers
Toothed rockcress

Morphology

Stem
2-10, pubescent below, glabrous or sparsely pubescent above, hairs branched.
Leaves
Basal leaves simple; petiole 2/5 to 2.4 inches; blade obovate to oblanceolate, 1/6 to 3/5 inch long, 2/5 to 2 inches wide, margins dentate, surfaces sparsely pubescent with simple or branched hairs. Cauline leaves 4-20, simple; petiole absent or short; blade obovate to oblanceolate or lanceolate, 2/5 to 2.4 inches long, 1/5 to 1 inch wide, base usually auriculate, margins dentate to sinuate, lower surface sparsely to densely pubescent with branched hairs, upper surface glabrous or sparsely pubescent with simple hairs and sometimes a few branched hairs.
Inflorescence
Racemes, terminal, 10-70-flowered. Fruiting pedicels spreading to ascending, 1/25 to 1/4 inch.
Flower
Sepals 4, 1/16 to 1/10 inch; petals 4, white or cream-colored, 1/12 to 1/7 inch long, less than 1/25 inch wide; stamens 6, 4 long stamens barely exserted, 2 short stamens included.
Fruit
Siliques usually spreading-ascending, some spreading-descending, 1/2 to 1.6 inches; seeds brown, orbicular to oblong, tiny, smooth, not winged.

Ecology

Habitat
Maple-basswood and floodplain forests, mesic oak-hickory forests
Distribution
East 1/3 of Kansas

Additional Notes

Comments

Named for Danish botanist Tyge Wittrock Boecher.

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.

Scientific Name: Arabis shortii

Full Citation: Arabis shortii Gleason

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Wildflower
Family
Brassicaceae - Mustard Family
Life Span
Biennial
Height
8-24 inches
Origin
Native
Last Updated
2014-05-24
Color Groups
White, Green & Greenish White Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: April, May