[Candytufts and Pennycresses: The Genera Noccaea and Thlaspi in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Alpine Pennycress, Rock Pennycress, Wild Candytuft

Noccaea fendleri ssp. glauca

Synonyms: Noccaea cochleariformis, Noccaea coloradensis, Noccaea montana var. montana, Thlaspi alpeste, Thlaspi alpestre var. glaucum, Thlaspi australe, Thlaspi cochleariforme, Thlaspi fendleri var. coloradense, Thlaspi fendleri var. glaucum, Thlaspi fendleri var. hesperium, Thlaspi fendleri var. tenuipes, Thlaspi glaucum, Thlaspi glaucum var. hesperium, Thlaspi glaucum var. pedunculatum, Thlaspi hesperium, Thlaspi montanum, Thlaspi montanum var. montanum

Wild candytuft blooming near the old lookout site atop Dog Mountain, Columbia River Gorge..........May 7, 2014.

Alpine Pennycress, Rock Pennycress, Wild Candytuft: Noccaea fendleri ssp. glauca (Synonyms: Noccaea cochleariformis, Noccaea coloradensis, Noccaea montana var. montana, Thlaspi alpeste, Thlaspi alpestre var. glaucum, Thlaspi australe, Thlaspi cochleariforme, Thlaspi fendleri var. coloradense, Thlaspi fendleri var. glaucum, Thlaspi fendleri var. hesperium, Thlaspi fendleri var. tenuipes, Thlaspi glaucum, Thlaspi glaucum var. hesperium, Thlaspi glaucum var. pedunculatum, Thlaspi hesperium, Thlaspi montanum, Thlaspi montanum var. montanum)

Characteristics:

Rock pennycress is an attractive wildflower with one to several erect, simple to branched stems arising from 3-25 cm. The herbage is smooth. The numerous basal leaves may be found in a rosette, and several smaller leaves alternate up the stem. The basal leaves range from 1.5-4 cm long are oblanceolate in shape, tapering abruptly to a narrow petiole. The margins are entire or may have several teeth. The stem leaves are reduced in size and are lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, sessile, and auriculate. The stem leaves measure from 5-35 mm long.

The flowers have 4 white petals, from 4-6 mm long, with the 4 smaller sepals from 2-3 mm long. The seed capsules are leeiptic and acute at the tip, to heart-shaped with a notch at the tip (see photo below).

Habitat:

Rock pennycress is a wildflower of open slopes and meadows.

Range:

Rock pennycress is found west of the Rocky Mts. from British Columbia to Alberta and south to California and New Mexico.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found from the west end east to about Dog Mt.. It is most common on the Washington side of the Columbia River. A plant of mid to high elevations, it may be found in the gorge from 2500'-4400'.

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Additional close-up photos of alpine pennycress as seen near the summit of Dog Mountain in the central Columbia River Gorge.........May 4, 2011. There were only a handful of plants of this species at this location that were beginning to bloom at this date. In an average year, the bloom of this species would be well underway.

Paul Slichter