Some less frequently seen crucifers...

[cohan]

I don't think I've seen this one in person--all those I recall had simple leaves-or at least not this divided...

Here are a couple of shots from near the Columbia Icefield tourist stop off of the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper, from last June 26;
This is the album with these plants, and some willows:
https://picasaweb.google.com/cactuscactus/AlbertaRockyMountainsJune262010F4CressAndWillows#
(The day as a whole was something like 16 albums-- I like to make each site separate, and keep album size modest for slow internet connections!)

The first I'm sure must be a fairly well known, common plant, I just haven't yet looked in the right places to know what! There were individuals with longer and shorter leaves, but I'm pretty sure these are all the same thing, just varying with age and exposure, and maybe just innate variation besides!

     

The next I missed full flowering of, but it looked like it had been pink/purple, and had really nice leaves; just today seeing Lori's earlier pics, I'm wondering if this could be an Arabis? Unlike the first, which was very common, I think I only saw the one plant of this...

 

[cohan]

Another plant, from earlier that same day, alongside Abraham Lake, a much lower elevation, but a very exposed site... growing among grasses and numerous other forbs, including several nice legumes and composites..
https://picasaweb.google.com/cactuscactus/AlbertaRockyMountainsJune262010C#

   

[Hoy]

I have to say that Smelowskia calycina really had the prettiest leaves!

[McDonough]

Here are a couple of shots from near the Columbia Icefield tourist stop off of the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper, from last June 26;
This is the album with these plants, and some willows:
https://picasaweb.google.com/cactuscactus/AlbertaRockyMountainsJune262010F4CressAndWillows#
(The day as a whole was something like 16 albums-- I like to make each site separate, and keep album size modest for slow internet connections!)

The first I'm sure must be a fairly well known, common plant, I just haven't yet looked in the right places to know what! There were individuals with longer and shorter leaves, but I'm pretty sure these are all the same thing, just varying with age and exposure, and maybe just innate variation besides!

The next I missed full flowering of, but it looked like it had been pink/purple, and had really nice leaves; just today seeing Lori's earlier pics, I'm wondering if this could be an Arabis? Unlike the first, which was very common, I think I only saw the one plant of this...

Cohan, I would guess that both the white-flowered plant and the presumed pink-purple flowered plant are Arabis species.  Interesting seeing the progression from young plants to very showy mature plants (looking at your Picasaweb gallery too).  You have me intrigued with the 2nd Arabis, indeed with rather neat linear foliage, and for an Arabis, the fruiting stems not overly elongated... my guess is that it would be showy in flower.

[cohan]

Thanks, Mark, If they could be Arabis, at least that gives me a genus to check in the Flora..
The first species was quite common at that site, so it was fun to see it at all stages, and also growing in various conditions; sheltering in mats of other species, right out on the side of the moraines by itself, etc..

The second one is funny-- I found that photo right after telling Lori I hadn't seen any pink flowered species  You can see a couple of the flowers at the end of the stem in the first shot, looks like just a couple of stems, not covered like the other plant, but still a really pretty species overall, more substantial looking leaves than many Brassicaceae..

I have a couple more to post once I get albums done..

[James Mikkelsen]

Thanks, Cohan.  Here's one I forgot (that I can actually identify, that is  )... not uncommon in alpine screes here but it doesn't seem to be much in cultivation.  Smelowskia calycina is attractive for its gray, pubescent leaves, even when not in flower.

I love Smelowskia calcynia! There is an area about 2 hours from our home where it grows in an alpine scree at 11,000'. I have collected the seed many times and although the seeds look viable when sown I have never had one germinate. I'd love to know what makes the seeds tick so I can grow this beauty.

[Lori S.]

Interesting, J.  If they are not common in cultivation (? - my guess anyway), that may be one of the reasons.  I'll have to collect a few seeds and give it a try. What methods of germination have you tried with them?

[Hoy]

I would have tried the seed outdoors over the winter - but maybe you have

Can anybody help with this unknown crucifer? (Difficult to take pictures today in rain and wind!)

[cohan]

You're sure its not Tanacetum?
 Maybe a Zizia?

[McDonough]

You're sure its not Tanacetum?
 Maybe a Zizia?

I don't think Tanacetum, but I'd go with the possibility of Zizia.  Everyone should grow a Zizia, just to have a perennial ZEE plant in the garden

[Lori S.]

Could you show a closeer view of the flowers, Trond?

[Hoy]

I apologise for the bad quality of the picture due to rain, wind and an unstable hand

But I definitely told you it is a crusifer
Here are a better picture although yellow and white flowers is hard to find or the autofocus. But you get a fly too completely free

[stephenb]

I'd agree that Zizias should be more grown, but Zizia it isn't - it's an umbellifer! Your plant looks familiar, but I can't place it...

Here's my Zizia aurea, in flower at the moment:

[cohan]

Ha! You know I was reading and thinking crucifer and didn't once catch my mind slip into umbellifer...lol.. as little as I know about umbellifers, I know less about crucifers (see above! and I photographed some in the mountains today, still no clues...lol).. so I have no clues for Trond's plant...lol

[stephenb]

I've for some time wanted to grow one of the mega-brassicas, Megacarpaea polyandra, one of the most commonly wild gathered food plants in the Himalaya region. I had seed from one of the seed exchanges a couple of years ago and one plant has survived, but I haven't planted it in the open garden yet. I saw it on my visit to the Gøteborg botanics growing in a woodland setting (see below). I also have two plants of Megacarpaea delavayi and seed of another species from Kazakhstan which haven't germinated yet. Anyone have experience with these or can advise on their requirements?
The second picture is of a Megacarpaea giganteum (a bit out of place in the Wendelbo bulb garden).