About Physaria arctica (Wormsk. ex Hornem.) O'Kane & Al-Shehbaz
Physaria arctica (Wormsk. ex Hornem.) O'Kane & Al-Shehbaz is a small plant reaching 6 to 12 centimeters in height. It has a short taproot and a woody stem base. Its dominant growth is a rosette of basal leaves, each measuring 2 to 6 centimeters long with a shape ranging from obovate to oblanceolate. Its smaller cauline (stem) leaves measure 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters long, are shaped oblanceolate or lingulate, and are either sessile or borne on short petioles. This species produces loosely racemose inflorescences, with ascending or erect flower stalks that are 5 to 20 millimeters long. Each inflorescence holds 3 to 8 radially symmetrical flowers; the petals are spatulate, 5 to 6 millimeters long, with blades that narrow gradually into the claw. This plant grows in sand and gravel derived from calcareous bedrock, and is found on river bars, river terraces, cliff ledges, scree, and talus slopes.
