(Vol. 8 
110 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 
This hypothesis seems to be strengthened by the reflection that 
the stipe is possibly to be considered a primitive character for 
the family received from Capparidaceous ancestors. The ad- 
mission of the stipe to the hypothetical ancestor of Lesquerella 
would be very significant and might serve to ally the genus to 
the Stanleya-Thelypodium group, a possibility that should not 
be forgotten. While it seems well established that the species 
in which a long stipe is present are to be considered, among liv- 
ing species at least, more primitive than those having a shorter 
stipe, yet it is also evident that in the most primitive species of 
the genus the pods are quite sessile. At present, then, we are 
inclined to believe that the gynophore is a character of no great 
antiquity in Lesquerella and appeared perhaps in a single genera- 
tion. This view is strengthened by the presence of the stipe in 
L. Garrettii and L. latifolia in groups whose ancestors must have 
had sessile pods and also by the occasional appearance of forms 
of L. gracilis with sessile pods throughout the range of this 
species. 
The Valves.—The characteristic form of the pods is largely 
determined by the size and shape of the two opposing valves. 
In Lesquerella these valves at maturity are dehiscent from the 
frame-work or replum that bears the placentae and style and 
across which is stretched the delicate false partition or septum. 
The valves are rarely, if ever, more than twice as long as wide, 
are usually more or less inflated or cup-shaped, and are typically 
without a noticeable midrib. The division into sections is based 
upon the character of these valves and under the various sec- 
tions, in a later paragraph, is given the characteristics of each. 
For the present we will content ourselves with a discussion of 
the changes that occur in the section Eulesquerella, since here 
are gathered all but four species of the genus. In this section 
the valves vary considerably between different species by the 
presence or absence of the stellate trichomes. "They vary also 
in form; some are hemispherieal, some lengthened and boat- 
shaped, some semi-ovoid and one curious form, L. gracilis var. 
repanda, bears a shoulder near the base and has an enlarged 
apex, consequently being obpyriform in outline. Although 
typically inflated many species possess pods that are variously 
compressed. Most frequently this compression is at the apex 
