ARABIS AURICULATA

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Names:- Annual rock-cress

Homotypic Synonyms:- Crucifera auriculata, Erysimum auriculatum.

Turrita auriculata, Turritis auriculata.

Meaning:- Arabis (L) Arabian.

Auriculata (L) Lobed ear-like, with lobes.

General description:- Often biennial.

Stems:-

1) 20-50 cm, unbranched or branched above; pubescent, the hairs 2- to 5-fid.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, petiolate, ovate or obovate, entire.

2) Cauline, 10-40 mm, sessile, auriculate, ovate to lance-shaped, acute.

Flowers:-

1) Flowers, 7-40.

2) Pedicels, up to 5 mm at anthesis.

3) Petals, 4-6 mm, white.

4) Infructescence, straight, flexuous.

5) Style, 0·5-1 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Siliqua, 25-70 x 1·5 mm, glabrous to puberulent, patent.

2) Seeds, 1·2-1·5 mm, narrowly winged.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky slopes and ridges, stony pastures in openings of coniferous forest,

screes, on various substrates. (400-)1000-2300 m.

Distribution:- Pyrenees, Alps, Jura and Balkan peninsula. On Crete occurs in the

three main massiffs, but not common.

Flowering time:- Late Apr to June.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis