Western Wallflower

Erysimum asperum

The common name, western wallflower, comes from the plant's distribution and a European connection. The western wallflower occurs in the western and central portions of the United States. In Utah, this plant represents the greatest ecological latitude for any Utah plant, occurring from two thousand two hundred and eighty feet to eleven thousand four hundred feet. The wallflower portion of the common name is taken from a relative that grows against stone walls in Europe. Perhaps this is where the term "wallflower" originates, suggesting a shy and timid person who stands against a wall, waiting to be included in an activity.

The generic name Erysimum (e-ri-si-MUM) comes from the Greek word erysimon meaning "biennial and perennial herbs." The species name asperum (a-SPE-rum) means "rough" and refers to the texture of the leaves. Some authors call the plant rough wallflower.

The family name Brassicaceae is sometimes called the Cruciferae meaning "cross" and this refers to the pattern of the petals and the stamens which are in the shape of a cross.

Distribution

The western wallflower occurs from the Yukon Territory south to California and Arizona and eastward to Oklahoma, Kansas and Minnesota.

Habitat

The western wallflower grows in low elevation shrublands, mountain brush, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, aspen, Douglas fir, and spruce-fir to alpine communities. It grows in a variety of soil types.

Description

Biennial or short-lived perennial. Often a single stem arises from a basal cluster of leaves. The stems grow from five to forty inches long. Basal leaves are one to five inches long and are elliptical or spatula-shaped in outline. Stem leaves are smaller towards the top of the stem. Both the stem and the leaves have tiny "Y" or pick-shaped hairs, called malpigian hairs. The hairs are attached at their middle to the stem or leaf. Dense clusters of yellow flowers occur at the top of the plant and have four petals and six stamens which are arranged in a "cross" pattern. Occasionally, some flowers have an orange tint or may be completely orange. Flowers are about one half inch across. The fruits that form are called silicles, long narrow pods that are one to five inches long and contain small, black seeds.

More Wildflowers

We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone, iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.

Photo tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.

Mojave Desert Wildflowers - This book is the standard by which all other wildflower books are measured. The author, Jon Mark Stewart, has combined super photography with concise information. This book has an entire color page for each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...

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