ENARTHROCARPUS ARCUATUS

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Names:- Enarthrocarpus

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Enarthrocarpus (Gr) Joined-fruit

Arcuatus (L) Curved, arched , bowed.

General desription:- Robust annual with simple hairs.

Stem:-

1) usually 20-35 cm, procumbent to suberect.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, in a rosette, petiolate, lyrate-pinnatisect with large, rounded terminal

segment.

Flowers:-

1) Racemes bracteate below, much elongating in fruit.

2) Pedicels 3-5 mm.

3) Petals 9-13 mm, pale yellow with purplish veins.

Fruit:-

1) Siliqua 3-9 cm, recurved, shortly setose, lower segment 1-6 mm, usually 1-

seeded; upper segment much longer, with 3-15 seeds; beak 5-10 mm, conical.

Key features:-

1) Petals 10-13 mm.

2) Raceme bracteate only at the base.

3) Lower segment of fruit 1-6 mm, seedless or with 1 seed.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Usually in coastal areas, (meadows, gravelly flats, ruderal habitats),

occasionally in fallow fields and olive groves up to 300 m.

Distribution:- Mediterranean region W Europe and SW Asia Sporadic appearance

on Crete. Mainly around western and N. central coastal areas.

Flowering time:- Mar-May, and sometimes again in the autumn.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton & Fotis Samaritakis