''Erysimum capitatum'' is a species of wallflower known commonly as the sanddune wallflower, western wallflower, or prairie rocket. This species can be found in regions across

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

, from the Great Lakes to the West Coast of the United States. Some varieties have an extremely narrow distribution, especially those endemic to California.

Description

''Erysimum capitatum'' is a mustard-like plant with thin, erect stems growing from a basal rosette and topped with dense bunches of variably colored flowers. Flowers are most typically bright golden, yellow, or tangerine-colored, but plants in some populations may have red, white or purple flowers. Each flower has four flat

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s. Seed pods are nearly parallel to the stem. It is a biennial herb and its native habitats include plains, foothills, and high elevation coniferous forests. The Latin specific epithet ''capitatum'' refers to the head-like shape of the flower cluster or the knobby stigma.

Subspecies

There are varieties or

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of this plant. Some are listed

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...

. For example, ''Erysimum capitatum'' var. ''angustatum'', the Contra Costa wallflower, is an endangered plant in the state of California. The varieties include: *''E. c.'' var. ''angustatum''—Contra Costa wallflower; endemic to California, endangered species. *''E. c.'' var. ''bealianum''—Sanddune wallflower; Mojave Desert, California. *''E. c.'' var. ''capitatum''—Western wallflower; flowers from May to July, widely distributed across Colorado and Utah. *''E. c.'' var. ''lompocense''—San Luis Obispo wallflower; endemic to California. *''E. c.'' var. ''perenne'' (syn: ''Erysimum perenne'')—Sanddune wallflower; endemic to California. *''E. c.'' var. ''purshii''—Pursh's wallflower; Western United States. Erysimum capitatum 5708

Pollinators

Little information on this wallflower species relationship with pollinators exists. Andrew Moldenke studied a population of ''Erysimum capitatum'' var. ''perenne'' in Subalpine Talus Fell Scree of the Timberland Hall Area ( elevation). He observed 13 species of flower visitors, although over 80% of the visits to the flowers were performed by two ant species, ''Formica lasioides'' and one from the ''

Formica fusca ''Formica fusca'' is a black-colored ant commonly found throughout Europe as well as parts of Southern Asia and Africa. It has the common names silky ant or dusky ant. The range within the palaearctic region extends from Portugal in the west to J ...

'' group.

Cultivation

''Erysimum capitatum'' is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is an attractive perennial, can be variable in appearance, and is used in butterfly gardening.

Uses

In Zuni ethnobotany, an infusion of the whole plant is used externally for muscle aches. The flower and the fruit are eaten as an emetic for stomach aches.

References

External links

USDA Plants Profile for ''Erysimum capitatum''Jepson Manual Treatment — ''Erysimum capitatum''''Erysimum capitatum'' Photo gallery
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3025685 capitatum Flora of the Northwestern United States Flora of the Southwestern United States Flora of the West Coast of the United States Flora of the United States Flora of the Great Lakes region (North America) Flora of California Flora of the California desert regions Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Plants used in traditional Native American medicine