Family: Brassicaceae (A Utah Flora - Cruciferae) – Mustard Family
Perennial herbs; stems 1.2” to 9.8” (0.3 to 2.5 dm) long
Leaves: basal and alternate; simple; blue-green rounded spatula-shaped leaves; leaves reduced upwards; entire to toothed; basal leaves 0.68" to 3.8” (1.7 to 9.5 cm) long, 0.24" to 1.8” (0.6 to 4.5 cm) wide
Flowers: 4 yellow petals in the shape of a cross or crucifer; 4 sepals; 6 stamens; 1 pistil; flowers 0.3" to 0.5” (7.5 to 12.5 mm) long; nectar glands commonly 4
Pollinators: other genera in this family are pollinated by insects (specifically butterflies, moths, bees and flies); some self-fertile
Fruits: bladdery-inflated silique - a pod with 2 compartments with a thin partition
Blooms in Arches National Park: February, March, April
Habitat in Arches National Park: desert shrub, grassland and pinyon-juniper communities
Location seen: park road mile 0 to 2.5, Park Avenue, Windows, upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint
Other: The genus name, “Physaria”, is from the Greek physa meaning “bladder” which refers to the inflated seedpods. The species name, “acutifolia”, means "with pointed leaves".
The common name, twinpod, refers to the seed's shape.
Many plants in this family are weeds and they flower early because they are annual. Many vegetables are in this family– radish, cabbage, cauliflower. A few species of plants in this family are poisonous to livestock.