| Rorippa columbiae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Rorippa |
| Species: | R. columbiae |
| Binomial name | |
| Rorippa columbiae (B.L.Rob.) Howell |
|
Rorippa columbiae is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name Columbia yellowcress. It is native to the western United States from central Washington to northern California, where it grows in moist to wet, sandy habitat types, such as playa. It is not a common plant; it is known from about fifteen occurrences in California, it is a candidate for protection in Oregon, and it is state-listed as a threatened species in Washington.[1] It is a perennial herb growing prostrate to erect, its densely hairy stems reaching 10 to 40 centimeters in maximum length. The leaves are deeply lobed, the lobes sometimes cut all the way to the midrib. Lower leaves are borne on petioles; upper leaves have bases that clasp the stem. The mustardlike flowers have small yellow petals. The fruit is a plump, hairy silique a few millimeters long containing many minute seeds.