ARABIS ALPINA subsp. ALPINA

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Name:- Alpine rock-cress

Homotypic Synonym:- None

Meaning:- Arabis (L) Arabian.

Alpina (L) Of mountains, alpine.

General description:- A densely hairy perennial herb.

Stems:-

1) 5-40 cm Flowering stems unbranched.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, attenuate-petiolate, oblong or obovate, dentate.

2) Cauline, ovate to lanceolate.

Flowers:-

1) Infructescence, lax.

2) Outer sepals, conspicuously saccate at the base.

3) Petals, 6-18 mm, white (rarely pink).

Fruit:-

1) Siliqua, 20-70 x 1·5-2·5 mm, patent.

Key features:-

1) Perennial, with vegetative leaf-rosettes.

2) Petals, 6-18 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Gorges, rocky outcrops in woodland, stabilised screes, mainly on

limestone. 600-2300 m.

Distribution:- Mountains throughout mainland Greece. - SE Europe and SW Asia.

Limited distribution on Crete, mainly in the four main massifs.

Flowering time:- Apr to early Aug.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton