6. Caulanthus coulteri S. Watson, Bot. U.S. Geol. Survey 40th Parallel 5: 27. 1871; Streptanthus coulteri (S. Watson) Greene, Fl. Francisc. 257. 1891. TYPE: United States, California, Kern Co., 1869, J. M. Coulter s.n. (holotype, GH!).
Herbs, annual, hispid with simple and stalked 2-rayed forked trichomes, rarely glabrous above, glaucous. Stems 1–16(–25) dm, erect, often branched above, sparsely hispid basally. Basal leaves rosulate; petiole 0.3–5 cm; blade narrowly oblong to oblanceolate, 0.7–12 x 0.4–2.5 cm, pubescent with simple and forked trichomes, margin pinnatifid to coarsely dentate-sinuate; middle cauline leaves sessile, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 1–18(–26) x 0.3–3.5(–4.5) cm, gradually reduced in size upwards, glabrous, base amplexicaul, margin dentate or entire. Racemes with a terminal cluster of sterile flowers, ebracteate, densely flowered, elongated in fruit; fruiting pedicels reflexed, 3–16 mm, pubescent or rarely glabrous. Sepals dark purple in bud, becoming yellowish green with purplish or brown margins, ovate to narrowly lanceolate, 5–15(–19) ´ 2–4.5 mm, erect to ascending, subequal, keeled, glabrous or pubescent with simple and forked trichomes; petals white or purplish with dark purple veins, 8–25(–30) mm; blade 4–10 x 1.5–4 mm, crisped; claw oblanceolate, 4–12 x 2–2.5 mm; filaments in 3 unequal pairs, free or adaxial pair connate and 5.5–11 mm, abaxial pair 3.5–8.5 mm, lateral pair 1.5–7 mm; anthers oblong to linear-oblong 1–5 mm, those of adaxial pair smaller; ovules 70–96 per ovary. Fruits 3.5–15 cm ´ 2.2–3.5 mm, reflexed or rarely divaricate, terete or only slightly latiseptate, often straight; valves with a prominent midvein basally; style obsolete or up to 4 mm; stigma strongly 2-lobed, lobes 0.5–1.5 mm, opposite valves. Seeds 1.5–3.5 x 1.5–2.2 mm; cotyledons deeply 3-fid.
Flowering: Mar–Jun(–Jul).
Habitat: grassland, scrub, woodland, chaparral.
Elevation: 100–2100 m.
Distribution: United States (C and S California).