Noccaea fendleri subsp. idahoensis

(Payson) Al-Shehbaz & M. Koch

Syst. Bot. 29: 383. 2004.

Basionym: Thlaspi idahoense Payson Univ. Wyoming Publ. Sci., Bot. 1: 159. 1926
Synonyms: Thlaspi aileeniae Rollins Thlaspi fendleri var. idahoense (Payson) C. L. Hitchcock Thlaspi idahoense var. aileeniae (Rollins) Rollins Thlaspi montanum var. idahoense (Payson) P. K. Holmgren
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 7. Treatment on page 603. Mentioned on page 601, 602.

Stems (0.3–)0.4–1.1(–1.2) dm. Basal leaves: petiole not differentiated from blade, about as long as blade; blade linear to narrowly oblanceolate, 1.1–4(–5) mm wide, base attenuate. Cauline leaves (2 or)3–7(–9). Racemes lax or slightly compact. Fruiting pedicels horizontal or subhorizontal, forming an angle more than 70º with rachis. Flowers: petals white, (3.4–)3.6–6 × 1–2 mm. Fruits only slightly winged, obovate or, rarely, elliptic, (4–)5–8(–9.5) × (2.5–)2.7–4(–4.5) mm, 1–2 times as long as wide, apex obtuse, truncate, or emarginate; style (0.5–)0.8–2(–2.5) mm. Seeds 2–8 per fruit. 2n = 14, 28.


Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Alpine or subalpine slopes, meadows, rocky crevices, rocky and gravelly soil in valleys, steep slopes, knolls
Elevation: 2100-3700 m

Discussion

Subspecies idahoensis is restricted to Blaine, Boise, Custer, Elmore, and Valley counties of central Idaho. Holmgren treated it as a variety of Thlaspi montanum, whereas R. C. Rollins (1993) recognized it as a species, T. idahoense, with two varieties. In my opinion, his varieties are based on continuous characters such as the loosely versus closely branched caudex, oblanceolate versus linear-oblanceolate basal leaves, and cuneate versus minutely auriculate distalmost cauline leaves.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Ihsan A. Al-Shehbaz +
(Payson) Al-Shehbaz & M. Koch +
Thlaspi idahoense +
2100-3700 m +
Alpine or subalpine slopes, meadows, rocky crevices, rocky and gravelly soil in valleys, steep slopes, knolls +
Flowering Jun–Aug. +
Thlaspi aileeniae +, Thlaspi fendleri var. idahoense +, Thlaspi idahoense var. aileeniae +  and Thlaspi montanum var. idahoense +
Noccaea fendleri subsp. idahoensis +
Noccaea fendleri +
subspecies +