Streptanthus anomalus

Streptanthus anomalus is an annual plant with a simple or branched, erect stem, growing {{cvt|15 to 40|cm|0}} tall. Basal rosette leaves are {{cvt|3 to 5|cm}} long, oblanceolate, dentate, with ciliate margins, while ovate cauline leaves have distinctive clasping bases. By flowering time, most rosette and proximal leaves are absent, and distal leaves have faded to a greenish yellow. Flowers occur in bracted, one-sided racemes, with {{cvt|2-3|mm|2}} pedicels. The calyx is urn shaped, and the sepals are either greenish-yellow or dark wine-red. {{cvt|7-9|mm|2}} long petals are exserted from the calyx, with yellow bases, brown to purple blades, and white margins. Stamens occur in either 3 unequal pairs, or with 4 long and 2 short stamens. The upper stamens have fused filaments and sterile anthers. Fruits are siliques, {{cvt|4-7|cm|frac=16}} long and {{cvt|3-4|mm}} wide, with 30-40 seeds. Each seed is {{cvt|2|mm|2}} long and {{cvt|1.75|mm|2}} wide, with a narrow wing.{{Cite web |title=Streptanthus anomalus |url=https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=82882 |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=ucjeps.berkeley.edu}}

Streptanthus anomalus is restricted to 3 occurrences on the lower slopes of Mount Burdell, north of the City of Novato in Marin County, California. These occurrences were discovered in 2011, 2012, and 2023.{{Cite web |title=Streptanthus anomalus Calflora |url=https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=13601 |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=www.calflora.org}}

Streptanthus anomalus is endemic to serpentine soils, where it occurs in sparsely vegetated grasslands with thin, rocky soils.

The specific epithet "anomalus" alludes to the anomalous possession of bracted inflorescences, which are absent among other members of section Euclisia. "Mount Burdell" refers to the range of the species, while "Tcukamos" is the Coast Miwok name for that geographic feature.{{Cite web |title=Map of Coast Miwok settlements, California |url=https://northbaydigital.sonoma.edu/digital/collection/EHDC/id/1357/ |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=northbaydigital.sonoma.edu}}

Streptanthus anomalus was described in 2019. It has been placed in section Euclisia alongside S. glandulosus. It does, however, share some characteristics with S. tortuosus, which suggests a possible hybrid origin.

Streptanthus anomalus has been assigned a California Rare Plant Rank of 1B.1 indicating that the species is rare, threatened, or endangered throughout its range.{{Cite web |title=Streptanthus anomalus |url=https://rareplants.cnps.org/Plants/Details/5011 |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=rareplants.cnps.org |language=en}}

It has also been assigned a NatureServe status of G1S1, indicating that the species is critically imperiled.{{Cite web |title=NatureServe Explorer 2.0 |url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1134088/Streptanthus_anomalus |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=explorer.natureserve.org}}

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anomalus

Category:Plants described in 2019

Category:Endemic flora of California

{{improve categories|date=January 2025}}