73. Leptaleum de Candolle, Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. 7: 239. 1821.
丝叶芥属 si ye jie shu
Herbs annual, puberulent. Trichomes short-stalked or subsessile, 1-3-forked or submalpighiaceous, sometimes also simple. Stems decumbent or erect, branched basally and apically, rarely simple from base. Basal leaves petiolate, not rosulate, simple, entire or pinnatisect into filiform segments. Cauline leaves similar to basal ones. Racemes 2-4-flowered, ebracteate, axillary, not elongated in fruit, sometimes flowers solitary and axillary. Fruiting pedicels slender or thickened, erect or ascending. Sepals linear-oblong or linear, erect, base of lateral pair not saccate. Petals white or pink; blade linear to linear-oblanceolate, apex obtuse; claw subequaling or shorter than sepals. Stamens 6, in 2 unequal pairs; filaments of median pairs connate to apex, rarely only basally, not dilated at base; anthers oblong, obtuse at apex, those of connate stamens sometimes 1-lobed. Nectar glands 4, 1 on each side of lateral filament; median glands absent. Ovules numerous per ovary. Fruit indehiscent or very tardily dehiscent siliques, linear, latiseptate, rarely subterete, often distinctly grooved at replum, sessile; valves thick leathery, with a prominent midvein and reticulate lateral veins, puberulent or glabrous, smooth; replum rounded; septum complete, thickened; style absent or obsolete; stigma conical, 2-lobed. Seeds biseriate, wingless, ovoid or suboblong, plump; seed coat smooth, not mucilaginous when wetted; cotyledons incumbent.
One species: C and SW Asia.
