Hutchinsia procumbens (L.) Desv.

                                                          =Lepidium procumbens

                                                                                         Brassicaceae

                                                                             Mustard Family

                                                                                Native

Prostrate Hutchinsia        

                                 February Photo   

Plant Characteristics:  Slender annual, the stems branching from base, erect to procumbent, glabrous to pubescent, 5-18 cm. high; lower lvs. entire to pinnately lobed, oblanceolate, short-petioled, 1-2 cm. long; cauline lvs. scattered, linear or oblanceolate, pedicels slender, spreading, becoming 7-12 mm. long; fls. racemose, white, about 1 mm. long; stamens 6; silicles 2-4 mm. long, obtuse, elliptical or oval, entire at apex, compressed contrary to the narrow partition, the valves wingless, 1-nerved; seeds 2-many in each locule, light brown, smooth, oblong, 0.5-0.6 mm. long.

 

Habitat:   Scattered moist alkaline places, up to 8600 ft.; many Plant Communities; San

Diego Co. north, from coast to desert edge, White Mts., Providence Mts., etc., to B.C. and east coast; Old World.  Santa Barbara Ids.  Blooms March-July. (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 291).

 

Name:  Named for Miss Ellen Hutchins of Bantry, Ireland, a prominent botanist, 1785-1815.  Latin, procumbens, falling forward, prostrate.  (Jaeger 208).

 

General:  Rare in the study area having been found only on the north facing slope above the intersection of Back Bay Dr. and San Joaquin Hills Rd.  I found several specimens in this location.  (my comments).  About 8 species of North America and Eurasia.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 291).

 

Text Ref: Abrams, Vol. II. 290; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 291; Hickman, Ed. 425.

Photo Ref:  Feb. 05 # 10,11.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.

First Found:  February 2005.

 

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 555.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit.  8/13/05.

 

                                            February Photo