Boechera retrofracta

Boechera retrofracta
Boechera retrofracta showing semi-ripe siliques
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Brassicales
Family:	Brassicaceae
Genus:	Boechera
Species:	B. retrofracta
Binomial name
Boechera retrofracta (Graham) A.& D. Lvve
Synonyms
Arabis retrofracta Graham Arabis retrofracta var. multicaulis B.Boivin Arabis sparsiflora var. secunda (Howell) Piper Turritis retrofracta (Graham) Hook. Arabis holboellii var. tenuis Arabis holboellii var. retrofracta Arabis holboellii var. consanguinea

Boechera retrofracta is a species of flowering plant in family Brassicaceae.

Description

Boechera retrofracta is a biennial or short-lived perennial species. The plants typically have single stems 1.5-7(-10.5) dm tall. The basal leaves are densely pubescent, oblanceolate shaped, 2 to 7 mm wide, with entire margins or shallowly dentate. The flowers are arranged into a usually unbranched raceme with 15 to 80 flowers but sometimes having as many as 140. The flowers are pendent and the petals are white to lavender. The fruits (siliques) are strongly reflexed (pendulous or pendent), usually appressed to rachis at maturity. The seeds have narrowly winged margins.

Habitat

Boechera retrofracta was listed as a threatened species in Minnesota in 1984 because of its rarity and the small size of its populations. In Minnesota populations are found in the Boundary Water Canoe Area in crevices on dry, north-and east-facing diabase cliffs, in association with other rare plants like: Woodsia scopulina (Rocky Mountain woodsia) and Asplenium trichomanes ssp. trichomanes (maidenhair spleenwort). There are also populations is Kittson county in dry prairie and sand dune habitat in association with xerophytes such as Juniperus horizontalis (creeping juniper), Orthocarpus luteus (owl clover), and Hedyotis longifolia (bluets). It has also been found in bur oak savanna.