ALYSSUM SMYRNAEUM

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE/Sect. ALYSSUM

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Alyssum (Gr) Pacifier, ancient Greek name meaning without-fury -

alluding to the supposed medicinal properties against rabies.

Smyrnaeum (L) Described from the vicinity of Smyrna (Izmir).

General description:- Grey-pubescent annual.

Stems:-

1) Up to 10 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Oblong-spathulate.

Flowers:-

1) Raceme, short in fruit.

2) Sepals, 2·5-3·5 mm, persistent.

3) Petals, 3·5-4 mm, emarginate.

4) Style, c. 2 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Silicula, 3·5-4·5 mm, ovate or orbicular, glabrous, turgid.

2) Seeds, without or with a narrow wing.

Key features:-

1) Indumentum of leaves consisting of branched or stellate hairs

2) Style, 1·5-3·5 mm

3) Petals, 3·5-4 mm.

4) Leaves, oblong-spathulate.

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Habitat:- Cliffs and rocky places in phrygana and open woodland, generally on hard

limestone, rarely on cultivated ground, 400-1500 m.

Distribution:- Greece the Peloponnisos - W Anatolia and Crimea. Limited

distribution on Crete with a few locations in the Lefka Ori. Dikti and Thrypti massifs.

Flowering time:- March-May

Photo by:- A N Other