Physaria ludoviciana

(Foothills Bladderpod)

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Physaria ludoviciana, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7902

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Physaria ludoviciana, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7584

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Physaria ludoviciana, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7591

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Physaria ludoviciana, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7897

Scientific Name Physaria ludoviciana (Lesquerella ludoviciana) USDA PLANTS Symbol LELU
Common Name Foothill Bladderpod ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 823205
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard) SEINet
Reference
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Description Life zones and habitat: Plains to foothills (3500 to 7500 ft.); sandy or gravelly soils on hillsides, grasslands, rocky outcrops, bluffs, and flats.
Plant: Erect perennial with one or a few stems 4 to 14 inches tall; herbage is densely covered with pubescent hairs.
Leaves: Basal leaves are erect, narrowly lanceolate to linear or oblanceolate, 3/4 to 2-3/8 inches long, usually with entire edges; stem leaves narrowly oblanceolate to linear, 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches long with flat or curled-up edges; densely covered with star-shaped white hairs that give them a silvery cast.
Inflorescence: Densely-flowered raceme compact, becoming elongated; 4 yellow oblanceolate or obovate petals 1/4-inch long, sepals oblong to broadly elliptic, about the same length as petals.
Bloom Period: May to July.
Fruit: Hairy, round or ovoid seed pods less than 1/4-inch across on straight or downward-curved pedicels 3/8 to almost 1 inch long.
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Minnesota Wildflowers and Flora of North America.
BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains