About Physaria bellii G.A.Mulligan
Physaria bellii G.A.Mulligan is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family Brassicaceae, commonly known as Bell's twinpod and Front Range twinpod. It is endemic to Colorado in the United States. This perennial herb grows decumbent or prostrate stems from a caudex, and is covered in hairs that give it a silvery appearance. Its basal leaves are toothed, while stem leaves have smooth edges. The inflorescence is a raceme of flowers that have yellow petals and yellowish sepals. The fruit is a leathery pod that reaches nearly one centimeter in length. Flowering occurs in May and June. This plant grows on Colorado's Front Range, occurring on the Niobrara, Pierre, Fountain, Ingleside, and Lykins Formations. Its habitat has soils of limestone, limestone shale, or red sandstone, and is shrubland dominated by Rhus trilobata and Cercocarpus montanus. The species is rare overall, but it is locally abundant. Potential threats to the species include hybridization with the more widespread Physaria vitulifera, limestone mining, road construction and maintenance, and introduced plant species. The main threat is residential development.
