Spatula-leaf bladderpod

Lesquerella spatulata Rydberg, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 3: 486. 1896; L. alpina (Nuttall) S. Watson var. spatulata (Rydberg) Payson; L. nodosa Greene; Physaria reediana O’Kane & Al-Shehbaz subsp. spatulata (Rydberg) O’Kane & Al-Shehbaz; P. reediana var. spatulata (Rydberg) B. L. Turner

Perennials; caudex simple, (relatively small); sparsely to moderately pubescent, trichomes 4- or 5-rayed, rays furcate or bifurcate, not fused, (tuberculate). Stems simple from base, erect to decumbent, (well-exserted beyond basal leaves, loosely spreading), 0.3-1.2 dm. Basal leaves (erect to prostrate, petiole distinct from blade); blade (inner) spatulate to oblanceolate, or (outer) oblanceolate or orbicular, 1.5-4 cm, margins entire (rarely folded). Cauline leaves: blade spatulate, distinctly different from basal. Racemes moderately dense, (6-20- flowered). Fruiting pedicels (strongly sigmoid), 10-20 mm (2 times longer than fruits). Flowers: sepals (pale yellow), elliptic, 3.5-5 mm; petals lingulate, 6-9 mm. Fruits lanceolate or orbicular, slightly inflated, (2.5-) 3-6 mm, (apex usually strongly narrowed); valves pubescent, trichomes sparse and closely appressed to surface; ovules 4-8 per ovary; style 2.5-6 mm (usually ± equal in length to mature fruit). Seeds plump.

Flowering May-early Jul. Grasslands, subalpine meadows, sagebrush, scattered pines, fellfields, calcareous (sometimes alkaline) substrates; 900-2900 m; Alta., Sask.; Mont., Nebr., N.Dak., S.Dak., Wyo.