BERBERIDACEAE -- Barberry Family - New Mexico Flores

Scientific Name:
Draba aurea
Size:
10 - 40 cm
BRASSICACEAE -- Mustard Family
Description:
Erect or reclining perennial herb, stems one to
several, with coarse, stiff hairs, both simple and
branched. Basal leaves oblanceolate, 1 - 5 cm
long, 2 - 12 mm wide, with petioles, edges
smooth to slightly toothed. Stem leaves
alternate, lanceolate to oblanceolate, 1 – 3 cm
long, 3 - 12 mm wide, densely hairy with
branched hairs, margins smooth or lightly
toothed. Flowers perfect, on ascending stalks,
in a cluster at stem end, elongating in fruit.
Sepals 4, 2 - 4 mm long, hairy. Petals 4
obovate, 4 - 6 mm long, narrowed at the base,
slightly notched at apex. Stamens 6, 4 equal, 2
shorter. Fruit a flattened, twisted pod 8 - 17
mm long, 2 - 4 mm wide, with a style less than
1.5 mm long.
154
Common Name:
Twisted-pod draba, golden whitlowgrass
Color:
Yellow
Notes:
New Mexico has 12 species of Draba. Several
have variously contorted or twisted pods.
Differentiation depends on technical features
such as the length of the slender cylindrical
protuberance at the tip of the pod (style). The
closely related Draba helleriana is also
common in the Manzanos, but the fruit style is
greater than 1.5mm. Draba aurea blooms from
late June through August between 7000 and
11000 ft.
New Mexico Native