''Phoenicaulis'' 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 ...

''Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides''.
The Jepson eFlora 2013. of flowering plants 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 ...

found in western North America. It contains the single species ''Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides'', which is known by the common names daggerpod and wallflower phoenicaulis. The genus name means 'reddish-purple stems', probably in reference to the tendency for the stems to take on such a color, and the species name means 'hand of flowers'.

Description

The species is a perennial herb producing one or more stems up to tall from a

caudex A caudex (: caudices) of a plant is a stem, but the term is also used to mean a rootstock and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises.pages 456 and 695 In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is most ...

. The basal leaves are narrowly lance-shaped to teardrop-shaped, up to 10 cm long, and woolly in texture. Leaves higher on the stem are shorter and usually less hairy. The

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 ...

is a

raceme A raceme () or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate growth, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are ...

of flowers''Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides''.
Flora of North America. with purple or pink petals up to about 1.5 cm long. The fruits are narrow, hairless

silique A silique or siliqua (plural ''siliques'' or ''siliquae'') is a type of fruit (seed capsule) having two fused carpels with the length being more than three times the width. When the length is less than three times the width of the dried fruit ...

s up to 9 cm long, and stick out from the stem on

pedicels In botany, a pedicel is a stem that attaches a single flower to the 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 branch ...

. The fruits are shaped like a dagger, giving the common name daggerpod.

Range and Habitat

The plant grows in many types of habitat, especially rocky areas. It occurs in sagebrush scrub,

scree Scree is a collection of broken rock fragments at the base of a cliff or other steep rocky mass that has accumulated through periodic rockfall. Landforms associated with these materials are often called talus deposits. The term ''scree'' is ap ...

, exposed volcanic and clay slopes, rock outcrops, hills, banks, and meadows. In the southern part of its range it also grows in the

alpine climate Alpine climate is the typical climate for elevations above the tree line, where trees fail to grow due to cold. This climate is also referred to as a mountain climate or highland climate. Definition There are multiple definitions of alpine cli ...

of high mountains. It grows at up to 3200 meters in elevation and flowers early in spring.

Gallery

Image: Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides iNat-160451303.jpg, Leaves Image: Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides iNat-156680453.jpg, Flowers Image: Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides iNat-169386311.jpg, Seed capsule

References

External links

''Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides''.
USDA PLANTS.
''Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides''.
CalPhotos. {{Taxonbar, from1=Q5795148, from2=Q15547220 Brassicaceae Flora of California Flora of Idaho Flora of Nevada Flora of Oregon Flora of Washington (state) Flora of the Great Basin Monotypic Brassicaceae genera