Difficult Drabas

Draba crassa, June 18, 2021

Draba crassa, June 18, 2021

Common & scientific name
Thickleaf draba, Draba crassa

Family
Mustard, Brassicaceae

Location
Lackawanna ridge, 13,000’

Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact

One of many, difficult-to-distinguish alpine Drabas, this one has smooth, green, relatively large leaves and yellow flowers, with simple hairs only on the edges of the leaves. It likes to sequester itself among rocks and other plants for maximum protection from the elements. This photo shows how much mustard flowers—four petals, always—even of different genera look alike.