DIDESMUS AEGYPTIUS

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Names:- Didesmus

Homotypic Synonyms:- Myagrum aegyptium, Rapistrum aegyptium.

Meaning:- Didesmus (L) divided into two lobes, reference to the seed pods.

Aegyptius (Gr) From Egypt, Egyptian.

General description:- A short to medium, hairless or slightly bristly, spreading

annual.

Stems:-

1) Spreading branches, slightly retrorse-hispid at the base.

Leaves:-

1) Lyrate-pinnatisect or subentire.

Flowers:-

1) In rather dense, ebracteate corymbs, much elongating in fruit.

2) Sepals, tinged purple.

3) Petals, 6-11 mm, white or cream.

4) Fruiting pedicels, 3-5 mm, thickened.

Fruit:-

1) Siliculae, suberect, transversely jointed into 2 indehiscent, 1-seeded segments;

a) lower,with 4-6 ribs or angles.

b) upper with an indurate beak.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Cultivated and fallow fields, stony and rocky slopes with open dry shrubby

vegetation, ruderal habitats near villages. 0-350 m.

Distribution:- N Africa and the E Mediterranean from Crete and Greece eastwards.

Limited distribution on Crete mainly around coastal areas.

Flowering time:- Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton