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Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 19, 2016, April 1, 2005, and May 19, 2010.

Often recumbent, often reminiscent of a lawn weed gone beautiful with lovely yellow flowers, Physaria rectipes is a fine find.  A thick basal rosette of leaves gives rise to long stems with few narrow leaves, and at the top of these stems dainty bright yellow flowers cluster in a glow.

The Lesquerella genus was named in 1888 by Sereno Watson for the naturalist, explorer, and paleobotanist Leo Lesquereux (pronounced "le crew").  (More biographical information about Lesquereux.) 

Lesquerella is now part of the Physaria genus as a result of research published in 2002 by Ishan Al-Shehbaz and Steve O'Kane. ""Rectipes" is Latin for "straight foot" probably referring to the long, straight stems.

As is evident from several photographs on this page (especially the second one at left), fruits leaves, stems, and other plant parts appear gray-green. They appear so because they are heavily covered with hairs  --  almost always, as is true for other Physaria, stellate hairs, i.e., hairs that branch out in a starburst formation. See the last photographs on the Physaria acutifolia page.

Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 19, 2010.

Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 12, 2011.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Physaria rectipes