SISYMBRIUM P0LYCERATIUM

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

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:-

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

Polyceratium (Gr) Many-horned.

General description:- Foetid annual, glabrous or sparsely puberulent,

Stems:-

1) Several, 10-50 cm tall densely leafy.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, in a rosette, dentate to sinuate-pinnatifid, usually withered

at anthesis.

2) Upper and bracts, lanceolate-hastate, dentate or subentire.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, bracteate to the apex.

2) Flowers, in fascicles of (1-)2-4 on very short pedicels.

3) Fruiting pedicels, erect, as thick as the base of the siliqua.

4) Petals, 1·5-2 mm, equalling or slightly exceeding the sepals, pale yellow.

5) Anthers, 0·3-0·5 mm.

6) Style, 0·5-1 mm, thinner than the siliqua.

Fruit:-

1) Siliqua, 10-25 x 0·7-1·2 mm, straight to recurved, torulose; valves 3-veined.

2) Seeds, 0·6-1 mm.

Key features:-

1) Petals, 1·5-2·5 mm.

2) Style, 0·5-1 mm. distinctly thinner than the siliqua.

3) Pedicels, 0·5-1 mm in fruit.

4) Siliqua, straight to recurved.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Roadsides and ditches. fallow fields, ruderal habitats near villages 0-

600m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece - Mediterranean region. extending to N.

Anatolia. Somewhat limited distribution on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-June, sometimes later.

Photos by:- A. N. Other