Stems simple or few from base, 1.5-9 dm, pubescent proximally, trichomes simple and long-stalked, 2-3-rayed. Basal leaves usually persistent; petiole 0.5-3 cm; blade oblanceolate, 3-9 cm × 3-23 mm, margins dentate, surfaces pubescent, trichomes stalked, 2-4-rayed. Cauline leaves (distal) sessile; blade linear, 2.7-7.5 cm × 1-9 mm, surfaces glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Racemes secund, 2-6 dm in fruit. Fruiting pedicels ascending, arcuate, 7-11 mm. Flowers: sepals purple or green, oblong, 2.3-4 × 0.8-2.1 mm, (subequal); petals lavender apically, spatulate, (2.7-)3.3-4.5 × (0.5-) 1-1.5(-1.7) mm, (equal); filaments (1.7-)2-2.8(-3.3) mm; anthers 0.9-1(-1.3) mm. Fruits divaricate-ascending, straight or curved, 3.3-6.5 cm × 2-2.5 mm, latiseptate; valves glabrous; septum opaque; ovules 40-50 per ovary; style obsolete to 0.2 mm. Seeds uniseriate, flattened, winged, oblong, 2.4-2.8 × 1.2-1.9 mm; seed coat not mucilaginous when wetted; cotyledons accumbent.

Flowering Jul-Sep. Steep rocky slopes, under pines, road and sand banks; of conservation concern; 1300-2800 m; Ariz.

Pennellia tricornuta is known from Cochise, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties. It was recognized by R. C. Rollins (1941, 1993) under Arabis, but as shown by Price, Bailey & Al-Shehbaz and by S. Fuentes-Soriano (2004), it clearly belongs to Pennellia.

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Small herbaceous shrub with few individual stems, pubescent with long trichomes.

Leaves: Oblanceolate basal leaves with dentate margins, pubescent, cauline leaves sessile with linear blades to 7.5 cm, pubescent or glabrous.

Flowers: Light cream to purple, small and bell shaped, contracted at the tips, with purple to green sepals.

Fruits: Ascending, divaricate, capsules, can be straight or curved, to 6.5 cm long, with broad partitions within, 40-50 ovules. Seeds flattened, oblong, and winged, not mucilaginous when wetted.

Ecology: Found in dry areas on steep rocky slopes, roadsides, and in pine woods, from 4,500-9,000 ft (1372-2743 m); flowering July-September.

Notes: FNA notes that this species is of conservation concern and is present in Cochise, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties.

Ethnobotany: Unknown

Etymology: Unknown

Synonyms: Arabis tricornuta

Editor: LCrumbacher, 2011