SISYMBRIUM ORIENTALE

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE/Sect. SISYMBRIUM

Common Names:- Eastern rocket

Homotypic Synonyms:- Hesperis orientalis, Sisymbrium columnae var.

orientale.

Meaning:- Sisymbrium (Gr) An ancient Greek name for various plants.

Orientale (L) Eastern, oriental of the east.

General description:- Herbaceous annual.

Stems:-

1) Up to 100 cm, softly pubescent; usually hispid at the base.

Leaves:-

1) First-formed basal, minute, oblong-obovate, subentire.

2) Later-formed basal and lower cauline, sinuate-pinnatifid.

3) Upper, petiolate, simple, 3-lobed or hastate, the terminal lobe linear

or lanceolate.

Flowers:-

1) Petals, (6-)7-10 mm, pale yellow.

2) Outer sepals, without a short horn at the apex.

3) Pedicels, 4-10 mm.

4) Anthers, 1-2 mm.

5) Style, 0·2-3·5 mm, clavate, the apex about as thick as the siliqua.

Fruit:-

1) Siliqua, (35-)50-100 x 1-1·5 mm.

2) Seeds, 0·7-1·2 mm.

Key features:-

1) Uppermost leaves, entire or hastate, with the terminal lobe oblong or lanceolate.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Roadsides, wasteground, field margins, occasionally in semi-natural

habitats. 0-1300 m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece and widespread and common throughout the

Mediterranean. a somewhat limited distribution on Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar-Aug, sometimes later.

Photos by:- Dr. Armin Jagel