NESLIA APICULATA

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Name:- Ball mustard

Homotypic Synonyms:- Neslia paniculata ssp. thracica

Meaning:- Neslia (L) For the18-19 century French botanist, Nesles.

Apiculata (L) With a small broad point at the tip.

General description:- Erect, subglabrous annual.

Stems:-

1) 15-80 cm., usually simple below and sparingly branched above.

Leaves:-

1) Oblong or lanceolate, entire or remotely dentate.

2) Basal, petiolate.

3) Cauline, sessile, ± amplexicaul with acute auricles.

Flowers:-

1) In slender, ebracteate racemes, much elongated in fruit.

2) Petals, 2-3.5 mm, pale yellow.

3) Pedicels, erect to spreading, slender, 3-12 mm in fruit.

4) Style 3-5 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Silicula, 2.5-3 mm, shortly stipitate, broadly ovoid, reticulate-rugose, apiculate,

indehiscent, 1-seeded.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Weed of cereal fields and olive groves, occasionally in dry meadows and

open woodland. 0-1200 m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece. Declining but still common especially in the

north Mediterranean region and SW to C Asia. Mainly around the coastal regions of

NW. Crete. South of the Lefka Ori and Dikti mountains.

Flowering time:- Mid-Mar to late May.

Photo by:- Dr. Armin Jagel