1. Peritoma arborea (Nuttall) H. H. Iltis, Novon. 17: 449. 2007.
Bladderpod, bladderbush, burro-fat
Isomeris arborea Nuttall in J. Torrey and A. Gray, Fl. N. Amer. 1: 124. 1838; Cleome isomeris Greene
Shrubs (evergreen), 50-200 cm. Stems profusely branched; glabrate or puberulent (bark corky, twigs smooth). Leaves: petiole 1-3 cm; leaflets 3, blade oblong-elliptic, 1.5-4.5 × 0.4-1.3 cm, margins serrate, apex acuminate to obtuse, surfaces glaucous. Racemes 1-3 cm (6-40 cm in fruit); bracts unifoliate, obovate to spatulate, 2-15 mm. Pedicels 7-15 mm (thickened in fruit). Flowers: sepals persistent, connate ca. 1/2 of length, green, lanceolate, 4-7 × 2.2-4 mm, margins entire, glabrous; petals yellow, ovate-elliptic, 8-14 × 4.2-5 mm, (apex acute); stamens yellow, 15-25 mm; anthers 2-2.5 mm; gynophore (reflexed), 10-20 mm in fruit; ovary 3-6 mm (often aborting in bud); style 0.9-1.2 mm. Capsules (tardily dehiscent), usually inflated ,(valves sometimes 3), 20-30 × 6-12 mm, smooth. Seeds 5-25, dark brown, obovoid, 6-7 × 5-6 mm, smooth.
Varieties 3 (3 in the flora): sw United States, nw, w Mexico.
SELECTED REFERENCE Truesdale H. D. et al. 2004. Allozyme vari-ability within and among varieties of Isomeris arborea (Capparaceae). Madroño 51: 364-371.
