Alpine Jewelflower

Description

Streptanthus gracilis is an annual herb producing a slender, hairless, waxy stem up to 30 or 35 centimeters tall. The basal leaves have toothed oblong blades borne on petioles. Leaves higher on the stem have shorter blades which may have short petioles or may clasp the stem at their bases. Flowers occur at intervals along the upper stem. Each has an urn-shaped calyx of pink sepals about half a centimeter long with pink petals emerging from the tip. The fruit is a thin, straight or curving silique up to 7 centimeters long.