Physaria ludoviciana is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family Brassicaceae, with the common names of bladder pod, silver bladderpod,[2] louisiana bladderpod, and foothill bladderpod.[3] It used to be Lesquerella ludoviciana which is now a synonym.[4]

Physaria ludoviciana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Brassicales
Family:	Brassicaceae
Genus:	Physaria
Species:	P. ludoviciana
Binomial name
Physaria ludoviciana (Nutt.) O'Kane & Al-Shehbaz
Synonyms[1]
List Alyssum ludovicianum Nutt. Lesquerella ludoviciana (Nutt.) S.Watson Myagrum argenteum Pursh Vesicaria ludoviciana (Nutt.) DC.

Description

Physaria ludoviciana is a taprooted perennial, growing 6-16 inches tall.[5] The flowers have four sepals and four yellow petals and six stamens.[6] The leaves are simple, narrow, and covered with stellate-pilose hairs. The basal leaves are produced in a rosette. The two loculed fruits are a globe-like silicle with dense pilose hairs.[6] Flowering occurs in early spring to mid/late summer, and some plants are polyploids.[7]

Distribution and habitat

It is an endangered species in Illinois and Minnesota, and a threatened species in Wisconsin.[8] In all three states this species is outside of its main range which is more western, growing in the dry plains.[6] The Minnesota populations are found around Red Wing in Goodhue County;[7] they are 500 kilometers from the species main range in the west and it is speculated it was introduction there by the long-range dispersal of a single seed or they are remnants from when the environment was drier and the species had a greater natural range. [6] The Minnesota plants are found in dry prairie on south-facing bluffs in sandy soil originating from weathered limestone; the populations are threatened by the encroachment of woody and invasive species due to human suppression of fires.[6]

Physaria ludoviciana is avoided by grazing animals.[7]

References