ALYSSUM SPHACIOTCUM

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

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Alyssum sphaciotcum subsp. strigosum.

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

alluding to the supposed medicinal properties against rabies.

Sphacioticum (Gr) Damaged-looking.

General description:- Silvery or grey perennial.

Stems:-

1) Flowering stems, 5-10 cm, with procumbent non-flowering stems, partly

underground, irregularly branched terminating in showy clusters of bright yellow

flowers.

Leaves:-

1) Elliptical-obovate, densely set on non-flowering shoots, densely covered with 20-

24-rayed stellate hairs.

Flowers:-

1) Raceme, short, slightly elongated and dense in fruit.

2) Fruiting pedicels, 10-15 mm, patent or deflexed.

3) Sepals, 3-4 mm, caducous.

4) Petals, large 5·5-6 mm, entire, bright yellow.

5) Style, 3-4 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Silicula, 5-7 mm, obcordate to obovate or orbicular, emarginate, pubescent.

a) valves, inflated, with a flattened margin.

2) Seeds 2·5-3 mm, wider than long; wing 0·2-0·5 mm wide.

Key features:-

1) Lower pedicels, equalling or longer than the silicula, 10-15 mm in fruit, often

deflexed.

2) Valves, of the silicula similar.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Limestone screes and rocky slopes. (1400-)1800-2350 m. sometimes

gregarious together with A. fragillium.

Distribution:- Endemic to Lefka Ori, where it is locally quite common at high

altitudes

Flowering time:- Mid-May to early June.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis