LEPIDIUM DRABA

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Names:- Hoary cress

Homotypic Synonyms:- Cardaria draba

Meaning:- Lepedium Meaning unknown.

Draba (Gr) Acrid. A name used by the Greek physician and botanist

Dioscorides.

General description:- Short to tall, hairless or somewhat hairy, variable greyish

perennial.

Stem:-

1) Generally 20-50 cm, erect, simple below, moderately pubescent with short,

crispate hairs.

Leaves:-

1) Middle and upper, sessile, sagittate-amplexicaul, oblong-elliptical, shallowly

dentate.

Flower:-

1) Racemes, forming a corymbose panicle.

2) Petals, 2.4-4 mm, white.

3) Style 1-1.5 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Siliculae, c. 3 x 4 mm, very broadly ovate, cordate at the base, slightly

compressed, indehiscent.

a) valves keeled.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Mostly roadsides, fallow fields and ruderal habitats, in seasonally wet

spots with deep, clayey soil. up to 1200 m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece. - Most of Europe and SW AsiaWidespread and

common throughout the Mediterranean. fairly widespread on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton