Brassicaceae
From Natural History of Southeast Alaska
http://www.brassica.info/info/publications/guidewild/BrassKey.pdf
Family: Brassicaceae
Group: Vascular Plant, Species
Scientific Name | Common Name | Summary |
---|---|---|
Alliaria petiolata | Garlic Mustard | So far known only from Juneau, where there has been an infestation documented in the downtown area from 2002 to 2013 (at least) based on data in AKEPIC. |
Aphragmus eschscholtzianus | Aleutian Cress | Not yet reported; a single report from British Columbia in the small area northwest of Haines. If this species occurs, it is likely to be only at the far northern margins of Southeast Alaska. |
Arabidopsis lyrata | Lyrate Rockcress | Collected from much of the region, except for there appears to be no (georeferenced) collections in ARCTOS from the far southern inner islands and mainland. |
Arabis eschscholtziana | Eschscholtz's Hairy Rockcress | Several georeferenced collections identified as this species in ARCTOS, but all are from the mainland. Either this species, or Hairy Rockcress (Arabis pycnocarpa) do occur on at least some islands, but additional investigation is needed. |
Arabis nuttallii | Nuttalls Rockcress | Not reported from the region, though there are scattered records from near the border in British Columbia, including along the Alsek River in the north and at Stewart (near Hyder) in the south. If this species does make it into Southeast Alaska, it is probably only at the margins. |
Arabis pycnocarpa | Hairy Rockcress | A single collection in ARCTOS from the Chilkat Peninsula near Haines. See also Eschscholtz's Hairy Rockcress (Arabis eschscholtziana) |
Barbarea orthoceras | American Yellowrocket | As of 2015, nearly 30 collections from throughout much of the region are cataloged in ARCTOS. Probably present throughout, though perhaps never abundant. |
Barbarea verna | Early Yellowrocket | Although FNA indicates this introduced species is known from Alaska, there are no collection records in ARCTOS. E-flora BC has a single record from the Taku River very near the border. |
Boechera divaricarpa | Uplifting Suncress | Only two collections from the region in ARCTOS, one near Skagway, the other near Haines. Given the overall range of this species, it appears to favor continental type climate. |
Boechera lemmonii | Lemmon's suncress | No collection from the region. There is a single collection from nunataks in British Columbia not far from the border. |
Boechera retrofracta | Holboell rockcress | A single collection from near Skagway in 2000 is the only collection in ARCTOS. It is labeled as Arabis hoelbellii, but FNA indicates that species is only present in Greenland in North America. E-flora BC has a collection from the Stikine river near the border, as well. |
Boechera stricta | Straight-up Suncress | Only two georeferenced collections in ARCTOS from the region, one outside of Haines, the other on the southern tip of Admiralty Island. Additional reports in e-Flora BC from just across the northern border along the highways outside of Haines and Skagway. |
Brassica juncea | India Mustard | Although it was included in the preliminary checklist, there are no collections (ARCTOS) nor recent reports (AKEPIC) of this introduced species. |
Brassica rapa | Field Mustard | Only a couple of collections in ARCTOS, but AKEPIC records indicate this species has been found in several communities, and is apparently wide-spread along the beaches in Seymour Canal. |
Braya humilis | Dwarf Northern Rockcress | There appears to be two collections from the region. One from limestone on Chichagof Island and a second the Alsek River not far from the border. |
Cakile edentula | Sea Rocket | Uncommon plant of sandy beaches. Several collections along the outer coast from south Baranof Island north to Yakutat. Additional collections from near Haines, southern Admiralty Island, and the mainland south of Ketchikan. |
Cakile maritima | European Sea Rocket | So far known from a single collection from Haines in 2000 and a 2019 photographic record from Kruzof Island. May be moving north and becoming more common in the future. (See the West coast Cakile project ) |
Camelina sativa | Gold of Pleasure | Introduced plant reported from the Sitka area in the preliminary checklist, though there are no recent observations of this species (AKEPIC) from the region. FNA says "R. L. McGregor (1985) indicated that Camelina sativa is no longer established in North America; we tend to agree because we have not seen any collections made within the past 40 years." |
Capsella bursa-pastoris | Shepherd's Purse | Small herb with distinctive heart-shaped fruits found in disturbed areas. Only two georeferenced collections in ARCTOS from the region (one from 1946), but many reports from communities and other areas of significant impact (logging roads/camps) in AKEPIC. |
Cardamine angulata | Seaside Bittercress | This species is a Pacific Northwest Coast endemic known primarily from northern California to Washington. In British Columbia it has been reported only on the far southern coast of Vancouver Island and on Haida Gwaii. So far in Southeast Alaska it has been found near Craig on the southern outer coast. |
Cardamine bellidifolia | Alpine Bittercress | Most collections are from the northern mainland along from alpine or glacier associated areas. The only island collections are from Baranof Island and Chichagof Island. A single collection from the southern mainland, but given the overall range of this species, it probably occurs throughout in suitable habitat. |
Cardamine breweri | Brewer's Bittercress | There are no collections in ARCTOS nor indicated on e-Flora BC of this species from Alasa. However, it was included on the preliminary checklist for Southeast Alaska, as well as in Hall's treatment. Not included in Hulten, but is listed in Anderson. |
Cardamine nymanii | Northern Field Bittercress | Formerly C. pratensis ssp angustifolia. There are no collections in ARCTOS (as C. p. angustifolia) from near Southeast Alaska (with many from more northern and western regions). E-flora BC maps have a few records from northern BC, the nearest to our region being at southern Atlin Lake. There are collections of Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) - which FNA doesn't indicate occurs in Alaska - from near Yakutat and just across the border from Haines - but the subspecies was not indicated. |
Cardamine occidentalis | Western Bittercress | Although Alaska is included in the range of this species in the FNA treatment and it was also included in the preliminary checklist, there are no collections of this species in ARCTOS, nor any indicated on the e-Flora BC maps from anywhere near the region. This a plant later identified as this species was photographed (but not turned into a permanent collection) along the former upper Blue Lake mud flat. |
Cardamine oligosperma | Little Western Bittercress | It is unclear whether this species occurs in the region. The range given in FNA includes British Columbia, but not Alaska. Hall's treatment suggests she is referring to the former kamtschatica variety, now known as Umbel Bittercress (Cardamine umbellata) in FNA treatment. Collection records in ARCTOS that show up in a search for this species all are currently identified as C. umbellata. However, e-Flora BC map includes records from through out the province (though it apperas C. umbellata is maintained as C. o. kamtschatica in those records). |
Cardamine pensylvanica | Pennsylvania Bittercress | Abundance is unclear. Only two collections in ARCTOS - both from southern mainland (as C. pennsylvanica). It has been suggested the collections may be mis-identified C. flexuosa see note here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9221363 |
Cardamine pratensis | Cuckoo Flower | Range in FNA treatment indicates this species is primarily from the northeast part of North America though it is also found in British Columbia in the west (though stated range does not include Alaska). FNA also suggests most (if not all) populations of this species are introduced from Europe. Alaska records may be of a former subspecies that is now called Northern Field Bittercress (Cardamine nymanii). ARCTOS has collections (not identified to subspecies) from near Yakutat (including one just across the border in Yukon Territory). |
Cardamine umbellata | Umbel Bittercress | Many collections from throughout the region. |
Cochlearia groenlandica | Scurvygrass | Only eight collection in ARCTOS, one from Sitka sound, the others from the north end of Prince of Wales Island and nearby associated islands. Probably occurs throughout the region in rocky coastal habitats. |
Cochlearia sessilifolia | Annual Scurvygrass | So far only reported from South Central Alaska, and not known to occur in Southeast Alaska. (Only known from Alaska.) |
Descurainia incana | Mountain Tansymustard | No collections of this species in ARCTOS from Southeast Alaska, but e-Flora BC has one mapped at Whitepass along the border. Given the overall distribution of this species, if it occurs in the region, it is probably only at the extreme northeast margins. |
Descurainia pinnata | Western tansey mustard | There appear to be no records from Alaska of this species. FNA does not include Alaska in the range of any of the subspecies. This species does occur in British Columbia and up to Whitehorse, but there do not appear to be any collections from near the border, and it seems unlikely this species occurs within the region. |
Descurainia sophia | Herb sophia | Although it is implied to have been found in the region on the Preliminary checklist, there are no collection records in ARCTOS from Southeast Alaska, nor does the e-Flora BC map include any records from nearby (though it has been found in northern BC). AKEPIC does not have any records in its database either. It seems unlikely that this species is currently established in Southeast Alaska. |
Descurainia sophioides | Northern Tansy Mustard | A single 2002 collection from near White Pass. Collection records would imply this is near the southern limit of the normal range for this species. |
Draba aurea | Golden Rockcress | The overall collection record of this species (from ARCTOS and e-Flora BC) suggest the range of this species is primarily on the inland side of the coast mountains as well as into the rocky mountains. There are not any collections in ARCTOS from Southeast Alaska of this species (though there are 4 records that show up in a search, but all are currently identified as Northern rockcress (Draba borealis)). |
Draba borealis | Northern rockcress | A handful of collections from the region are in ARCTOS, with most near the northern border, but one from Coronation Island as well. |
Draba cana | Cushion Draba | A single collection from mountains north of Glacier Bay and west of Haines is the only record from Southeast Alaska in ARCTOS. |
Draba cinerea | Gray-leaved Draba | A single collection in ARCTOS from the mountains north Glacier Bay and west of Haines. This appears to be at the southern edge of its range. |
Draba corymbosa | Flat-top Draba | D. eschscholtzii was included in the preliminary checklist, though it seems this name may be misapplied to plants in North America (see discussion at pan arctic flora site). It is not entirely clear what the best alternative may be, however D. corymbosa seems plausible. In any case, there appear to be no documented collections of this species from the region at present, though there are three records from the Haines triangle region of British Columbia included in maps on e-Flora BC. |
Draba crassifolia | Snowbed Draba | Four collections in ARCTOS, all from mountains on the mainland, three from Juneau north, and one from the Cleveland Peninsula. |
Draba glabella | Rock Whitlow-grass | This species has been collected from White Pass near Skagway, Greens Creek area on Admiralty Island, and from above Rust Lake on Chichagof Island. The latter appear to the the southernmost records of this species in western North America. |
Draba grandis | North Pacific Rockcress | Only four collections georeferenced in ARCTOS, all from the outer coast. PacNW herbarium records show a collection from Kashevarof Island (it was described as common), the only one away from the outer coast. (Patchy, rare or absent on inside waters?) |
Draba incerta | Yellowstone Draba | Overall range of this species appears to favor the east side of the coast range, but there are two collections of this species in ARCTOS from northern Prince of Wales Island. |
Draba juvenilis | Long-stalked Draba | Three collections from the region in ARCTOS, two on limestone areas of Chichagof Island, and one from the Juneau Icefield. Southeast Alaska is at the southern margin of the overall range of this species. |
Draba lonchocarpa | Lance-pod draba | A dozen collections from the region in ARCTOS, most from the northeastern mainland, but also from Baranof Island, Hecata Island, and Prince of Wales Island, and one collection from the south central mainland. Habitat in Southeast Alaska appears to be limited to the alpine. |
Draba nemorosa | Woodland Draba | No collections from the region. The nearest reports appear to be from the interior beyond the coast mountain range. It seems unlikely this species occurs in Southeast Alaska. |
Draba nivalis | Snow draba | Although it was included on the preliminary checklist, there are no records of this species from the region that are georeferenced in ARCTOS, nor any that show up on e-Flora BC map. The overall range of this species is almost entirely north and/or west of Southeast Alaska. One observation on iNaturalist identified as this [1]
ID notes from FNA treatment: Draba nivalis is most often confused with D. lonchocarpa, and C. L. Hitchcock (1941) reduced the latter to a variety (var. elongata) of D. nivalis. A critical comparison reveals that there are enough differences to warrant their recognition as distinct species. Draba nivalis is distinguished by having non-ciliate leaf bases, basal leaf blades pubescent with trichomes 0.05-0.15 mm, stems and pedicels that are always pubescent, and fruits that are elliptic to narrowly elliptic-oblong, plane, and 3.5-9 mm. By contrast, D. lonchocarpa has ciliate leaf bases, basal leaf blades pubescent with trichomes 0.15-0.5 mm, stems and pedicels that are glabrous or sparsely pubescent, and fruits that are linear to lanceolate or oblong, slightly twisted or plane, and 6-15(-18) mm. Except for Alaska, D. nivalis does not grow in the continental United States, whereas D. lonchocarpa grows in nearly all Mountain and Pacific states. |
Draba oligosperma | Few-seeded draba | There are not collections indicated in ARCTOS, nor on e-flora BC maps from the region. Overall range of this species appears to be primarily in the Rocky Mountains, with the nearest collections to Southeast Alaska in the southern Yukon Territories. It seems unlikely this species occurs in our region. |
Draba praealta | Tall Whitlow-grass | A single collection in ARCTOS from Takhin Ridge in the mountains between Glacier Bay and Haines. FNA author doesn't consider this species well-substantiated in the Alaska. |
Draba ruaxes | Rainier draba | There appear to be no collections from Southeast Alaska, but there is one from Yukon Territory right along the border north of Yakutat. |
Draba stenoloba | Alaska draba | Several collections in ARCTOS from the region, with most from the area north of Lynn Canal. Additional collections on the mainland from the area north of Yakutat and one from the mainland east of Wrangell suggest this species may show up at least occasionally in the coast mountains of the mainland throughout. A single collection from Admiralty Island is the only island record in the region. |
Erysimum cheiranthoides | Wormseed | Overall distribution of this species is unclear. There are a handful of collections, mostly from northern Lynn Canal, but also one from Chichagof Island at/near Todd Cannery site. Oldest collection is from Haines in 1949. Also present in Sitka. Although FNA indicates this is an introduced species it does not seem to be tracked in AKEPIC database. |
Erysimum inconspicuum | Shy Wallflower | There do not appear to be any collections from the region. The distribution of this species seems to indicate a preference for a more continental climate, and is perhaps unlikely to occur in Southeast Alaska. |
Hesperis matronalis | Sweet-rocket | Few actual collections, but there are reports from several communities in the AKEPIC database. This species is not infrequently grown as an ornamental plant, and it may be that many of the observations are from intentional plantings. |
Lepidium densiflorum | Common Pepperweed | Although included on the preliminary checklist and in Hall's treatment, there are no collections in ARCTOS, nor a reports of this species in the AKEPIC database. |
Lepidium virginicum | Wild Peppergrass | Although included in the preliminary checklist, there are no collections in ARCTOS, nor any in the AKEPIC database, so it seems unlikely that this species is currently present in the region. |
Parrya nudicaulis | Nakedstem Wallflower | Although included in Hall's treatment, there are not any records from Southeast Alaska in ARCTOS, and the overall distribution of collections of this species would suggest it's unlikely to occur in Southeast Alaska except possibly at the northern margins. |
Physaria arctica | Arctic Bladderpod | No collections or reports from Southeast Alaska, but there are two records on e-Flora BC maps from the Tatshenshini River in the Haines triangle of British Columbia. If this species occurs in the region, it is probably only at the margins. |
Raphanus sativus | Garden Radish | No collection records from the region in ARCTOS. Nor any reports in AKEPIC database. A plant thought to be this species has been seen at Pirate's Cove near Sitka. |
Rorippa curvipes | Bluntleaf Yellowcress | Although listed in the preliminary checklist, the FNA does not consider this species to occur in Alaska, and there are no collections especially near to Southeast Alaska. It appears that it's primary range probably goes as far north as the southern half of British Columbia. |
Rorippa curvisiliqua | Western Yellowcress | Only two collections from Southeast Alaska, one at Hyder and another at Glacier Bay. Also a collection along the Haines Highway on the BC side of the border. |
Rorippa palustris | Marsh Yellowcress | More than a dozen collections scattered throughout the region, with significant gaps. |
Sinapis alba | Charlock Mustard | A single record in AKEPIC from the Klawock Airport in 2004. Reported to have 50% canopy cover in a .1 acre area, it was also noted that species was uncertain. |
Sinapis arvensis | Charlock | Although included on the preliminary checklist, there appears to be no collection records of this species from the region, nor any records from AKEPIC. |
Sisymbrium altissimum | Tall Tumble Mustard | Collections in ARCTOS from Juneau, Haines, and Skagway. None are georeferenced, all from prior to 1940. Only a single recent report from Klukwan in 2007 from AKEPIC database. This species may not be established in the region. |
Sisymbrium officinale | Hedge Mustard | A 2009 collection from Hoonah is the only recent one in ARCTOS (though there may be others from the early 1900s). Only one recent report in AKEPIC, from Prince of Wales Island. AKEPIC also reports a 1916 citation from Anderson of this species occurring in Sitka. It is unclear whether this species is currently established in the region. |
Subularia aquatica | Awlwort | Only four collections in ARCTOS, one from near Ketchikan, another from the Stikine River, one on Kruzof Island near Sitka, and last near Yakutat. |
Thlaspi arvense | Field Pennycress | Four collections in ARCTOS, from Juneau, near Haines, and Skagway. An additional (2006) record from Kake and three (2007) from Haines in AKEPIC. Seems likely to be established in the Haines area, elsewhere is unclear. |
Turritis glabra | Tower Rockcress | Several old collections in ARCTOS from Haines area, and one 1941 collection from Kake. AKEPIC includes several reports from Haines area cites one historical collection (1929) from Sitka. Given the records, it seems like this species is established in the Haines area, but perhaps not elsewhere. |
For Arabis from FNA [2]
- Petals 3.5-5(-5.5) mm; lateral sepals not saccate basally; fruits 0.8-1 (-1.2)mm wide; cauline leaves (7-)10-45(-61), overlapping or not. 3 Arabis pycnocarpa
- Petals (5.5-)6.5-9(-10) mm; lateral sepals saccate basally; fruits 1.2-1.8(-2) mm wide; cauline leaves (2-)4-12(-18), not overlapping or rarely so. 4 Arabis eschscholtziana