ALYSSUM FOLIOSUM

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

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Alyssum (Gr) Pacifier, ancient Greek name meaning without-fury -

alluding to the supposed medicinal properties against rabies.

Foliosum (L) Leafy, well leaved.

General description:- Grey-green annual, usually branched from base.

Stems:-

1) 3-12 cm tall. Stem and leaves densely covered with sublepidote, 16-24-

rayed stellate hairs.

Leaves:-

1) Lower ovate-orbicular, long-petiolate.

2) Upper oblong, crowded below inflorescence forming an involucre.

Flowers:-

1) Raceme simple, dense, scarcely elongating in fruit.

2) Sepals 2-2·5 mm, persistent.

3) Petals 3-3·5 mm, linear, emarginate.

4) Style not more than 1(-1·5) mm

Fruit:-

1) Siliculae 5-6 mm, suborbicular, glabrous except sometimes on the upper edge.

2) Seeds 2-2.5 mm, with a narrow but distinct wing.

3) Valves strongly inflated, with narrow flattened margins.

Key features:-

1) Style not more than 1(-1·5) mm.

2) Upper leaves forming an involucre around the inflorescence.

3) Silicula ovate.

4) Valves inflated.

5) Petals 3-3·5 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky places in dry open shrubby vegetation, pastures and open

woodland, on various substrates, but usually limestone, (50)-400-1100 m,

occasionally to 2200 m in Crete.

Distribution:- Scattered in Peloponnisos, Sterea Ellas and NE Greece. - Also in W

& SW Anatolia and Cyprus..Limited distribution on Crete with a few locations in the

Lefka Ori. Psiloritis and Dikti massifs.

Flowering time:- March-May

Photo by:- A N Other