ALYSSUM MINUTUM

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

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- None

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

alluding to the supposed medicinal properties against rabies.

Minutum (L) Very small, minute, inconspicuous.

General description:- Annual.

Stems:-

1) Up to 12 cm; indumentum dimorphic, grey-green.

Leaves:-

1) Obovate to oblong.

Flowers:-

1) Raceme, more or less elongate in fruit, dense.

2) Pedicels, 4-6 mm, erecto-patent or erect.

3) Sepals, c. 2 mm, persistent.

4) Petals, 2·3-3 mm, distinctly emarginate, pubescent.

5) Style, 0·5-1 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Silicula, 3-4 mm, orbicular, emarginate, glabrous, valves inflated, with a flattened

margin.

2) Seeds, 1·5-1·7 mm, narrowly winged.

Key features:-

1) Stellate hairs more than 0·3 mm diam.

2) Sepals, persistent.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Stony and gravelly habitats in dry pastures, gorges and open coniferous

wood- land, mainly on limestone. 0-2000 m.

Distribution:- East and cental Europe. On Crete can be found in the four main

massifs.

Flowering time:- (Mar-)Apr-May.

Photo by:- Steve Lenton

Native to:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bulgaria, Central European Rus, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Greece, Iran, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, North Caucasus, Portugal, Romania, Sardegna, Sicilia, South European Russi, Spain, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Ukraine, Yugoslavia

Introduced into:
Cape Provinces