Physaria montana

(Mountain Bladderpod)

_DSC1056%20copy

Physaria montana, Weston Pass, Park Co. 0638

_DSC1056%20copy

Physaria montana, Weston Pass, Park Co. 0649

_DSC1056%20copy

Physaria montana, Weston Pass, Park Co. 0625

_DSC1056%20copy

Physaria montana, Weston Pass, Park Co. 0636

_DSC1056%20copy

Physaria montana, Weston Pass, Park Co. 0633

_DSC1056%20copy

Physaria montana, Weston Pass, Park Co. 0630

_DSC1056%20copy

Physaria montana, Weston Pass, Park Co. 0645

Scientific Name Physaria montana (Lesquerella montana) USDA PLANTS Symbol LEMO3
Common Name Foothill Bladderpod ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 823208
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard) SEINet
Reference
Click Here
Description Life zones and habitat: Plains to subalpine (4500 to 10500 ft.); rocky, often granitic, non-limestone (calcareous) soils in open areas on outcrops and hillsides, woodlands and grasslands.
Plant: Perennial with several prostrate to erect stems 2 to 8 inches long; foliage with star-shaped hairs.
Leaves: Basal leaves are obovate to elliptic or nearly round, 3/4 to 2 inches long with margins that are entire, sinuate, or shallowly dentate; stem leaves are linear to obovate or rhombic, 3/8 to 1-inch long, with margins that are entire or shallowly dentate.
Inflorescence: Densely-flowered raceme is compact, becoming elongated in fruit; flowers have 4 yellow to orange narrowly spatulate or obovate petals 1/4 to nearly 1/2-inch long; sepals are elliptic, shorter than the petals.
Bloom Period: April to July.
Fruit: Hairy, ovoid to elliptic seed pods less than 1/2-inch long at the ends of S-shaped pedicels about the same length.
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield 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