''Anelsonia'' is a

monotypic genus In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispe ...

in the family

Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older but equally valid) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important Family (biology), family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous pla ...

containing the single species ''Anelsonia eurycarpa'', which is known by the common name daggerpod. It is similar to '' Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides'', but at present they are treated in separate genera. This species is a fleshy, hairy plant of mountain habitats throughout the western United States from California to Idaho and can be found from 1600-4100 m. Above the rosette of velvety, fingerlike leaves it bears densely packed

inflorescence In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...

s of tiny white flowers. The distinctive fruits develop and dwarf the rest of the plant under an array of

sail A sail is a tensile structure, which is made from fabric or other membrane materials, that uses wind power to propel sailing craft, including sailing ships, sailboats, windsurfers, ice boats, and even sail-powered land vehicles. Sails may b ...

like pod structures, each on a

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

. The fruits are each 2 to 3 centimeters tall, elliptic, and papery to leathery across a span between stiff

septa SEPTA, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, is a regional public transportation authority that operates bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolleybus services for nearly four million people througho ...

. They are white, often with areas of purple coloration, or brown. Within the folds of the fruit are several seeds. ''Anelsonia'' was named for the botanist

Aven Nelson Aven Nelson (March 24, 1859 – March 31, 1952) was an American botanist who specialized in plants of the Rocky Mountains. He was one of the founding professors of the University of Wyoming, where he taught for 55 years as professor and served as ...

References

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment

USDA Plants Profile

Photo gallery
Brassicaceae Flora of the United States Monotypic Brassicaceae genera Taxa named by James Francis Macbride Taxa named by Edwin Blake Payson Plants described in 1917 {{Brassicales-stub