Bill's Botanical Forays

A member of Brassicaceae (Mustard Family), the Cusick’s Rockcress (Boechera cusickii (S. Watson) Al-Shehbaz) is found in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada. It was formerly called (Arabis cusickii S. Watson) before it was reclassified based on recent DNA studies. It is a spring ephemeral that prefers sagebrush and other other xeric (dry) communities. (These photos were taken at the Vantage Overlook and the Eastbound Ryegrass Summit Rest Area.)

 

 

The plant may be identified by its clustered flowers, leafy stems and pendulous fruiting bodies or “siliques”. Its silvery-green color comes from fine hairs that cover the foliage.

It is named after William Conklin Cusick (1842-1942) was an Oregon school-teacher, rancher, and botanist who collected and described many plants native to Oregon’s mountains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference:

http://www.larkspurbooks.com/brassic2.html