ERYSIMUM SMYRNAEUM

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Erysimum (Gr) A name used by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus

(perennial wallflowers).

Smyrnaeum (L) Described from the vicinity of Smyrna (Izmir).

General description:- Biennial.

Stems:-

1) Up to 60 cm, with prominent ridges; hairs (3)4- to 5(6)-fid.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, pectinate-pinnatifid, usually dead at anthesis.

2) Cauline, 30-60 x 3-7(-10) mm, oblong, sinuate-dentate to entire, green.

3) Often with irregular, 2-pointed teeth.

Flowers:-

1) Pedicels, 2-4 mm in flower, up to 8 mm in fruit.

2) Sepals, 6-8 mm.

3) Petals, 12-14 x 3-3·5 mm, yellow, pubescent on the back.

4) Style, 0·5-1·5 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Siliqua, 40-70 x 1-1·5 mm, forming an angle of 40°-6O° with the axis, with mainly

3- or 4-rayed hairs.

Key Features:-

1) Middle cauline leaves, entire to coarsely sinuate-dentate, not divided to more

than 1/3 of the way to the mid-vein.

2) Hairs on the leaves mostly 4- or 5-fid.

3) Stems, with prominent ridges.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Field margins, dry pastures andruderal habitats, 200-1000m.

Distribution:- In Greece known only from Kos, and a recent collection from W.

Crete. - Through Anatolia and Lebanon to Mt. Hermon.

Flowering time:- Mar-May.

Photos by:- Ron Frumkin - Courtesy Creative Commons.