ARABIS VERNA

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Name:- Spring-rock-cress.

Homotypic Synonyms:- Erysimum vernum, Hesperis verna.

Meaning:- Arabis (L) Arabian.

Verna (L) Of spring.

General description:- Low to short thinly hairy annual.

Stems:-

1) 5-40 cm, frequently with several flowering stems arising from a basal leaf-rosette.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, petiolate, ovate or obovate.

2) Cauline, few (often only 1 or 2), 6-20 mm, cordate or auriculate-amplexicaul at

the base, ovate, serrate.

Flowers:-

1) Up to 10.

2) Pedicels, less than 2 mm at anthesis.

3) Petals, 5-8 mm, pale violet with a yellowish claw, or white.

4) Infructescence, lax, flexuous.

5) Stigma, sessile.

Fruit:-

1) Siliqua, (25-)45-60 x (1)1·5-2 mm erecto-patent. glabrous to puberulent.

2) Seeds, up to 1 mm, narrowly winged, brown.

Key features:-

1) Cauline leaves, cordate or auriculate-amplexicaul.

2) Siliqua, 1·5-2 mm wide; often glabrous.

3) Petals, pale violet.

4) Pedicels, short, thick.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky slopes with open dry shrubby vegetation and open woodland,

occasionally road embankments, etc. 0-1100(-1500) m.

Distribution:- Widespread throughout the Mediterranean. Widespread and common

on Crete.

Flowering time:- Late Feb to early June..

Photos by:- Steve Lenton