Rorippa curvisiliqua
| Rorippa curvisiliqua | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Rorippa |
| Species: | R. curvisiliqua |
| Binomial name | |
| Rorippa curvisiliqua (Hook.) Britton | |
Rorippa curvisiliqua is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name curvepod yellowcress. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Wyoming, where it can be found in various types of moist and wet habitat, including lakeshores and riverbanks, meadows, roadsides, and mudflats. It is an annual or biennial herb which can be quite variable in appearance. It produces prostrate to erect stems up to half a meter long. The leaves are up to 7 centimeters long and have blades which may be smooth-edged or divided into lobes of varying shapes. The inflorescence is an elongated raceme occupying the top portion of the stem containing many tiny yellow flowers just a few millimeters long. The fruit is a silique which is variable in size and shape but generally contains many minute seeds.
This species has been divided into a number of varieties, but some authorities doubt that this division is valid or useful.[1]