About Streptanthus crassicaulis Torr.
Caulanthus crassicaulis, previously classified as Streptanthus crassicaulis Torr., is a flowering plant species in the mustard family Brassicaceae. It is commonly known as thickstem wild cabbage. It is native to the western United States, where it grows as part of the native flora in sagebrush, woodland, and desert scrub habitats. This species is a perennial herb that grows a stout, inflated stem from a woody caudex base. Its leaves form a basal rosette, and also grow at intervals along the stem. On the lower part of the stem, leaves are broadly lance-shaped, while leaves higher up the stem are much smaller and linear in shape. Leaf edges can be smooth, toothed, or deeply cut. The rounded flower has a covering of thick, pouched sepals that split open at the tip of the flower to reveal narrow dark purple or brown petals. There are two recognized varieties of this species: variety crassicaulis generally has hairy flowers, while variety glaber has hairless flowers. The fruit produced by the plant is a long, thin silique that can reach up to nearly 13 centimeters (5.1 inches) in length.
