BISCUTELLA DIDYMA

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Name:- Biscutella, Buckler mustard

Homotypic Synonyms:- Biscutella apula, Biscutella didyma var. apula,

Clypeola didyma.

Meaning:- Biscutella (L) Two-small-trays, bi-scutella (scutella = tray) referring to

the fruits.

Didyma (L) Twin, twinned, double, equally-divided, in pairs.

General description:- Very variable, erect, short to medium, hair annual.

Stems:-

1) Up to 40 cm, simple or branched.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, up to 8 x 2·5 cm, rosulate or not, obovate-cuneate, dentate or denticulate.

± strigose with simple hairs.

2) Cauline, few and smaller.

Flowers:-

1) Pale yellow, occasionally tinged with lilac, 3-5mm, borne in dense, elongating,

racemes.

2) Sepals 2 mm,

3) Petals not notched, 2-4mm long, filaments filiform.

Fruit:-

1) Silicula consisting of paired disks, each lobe 4·5-7 x 9-12·5 cm.

Key features:-

1) Infructescence, dense.

2) Pedicels erecto-patent.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry, stony and rocky places in open dry shrubby vegetation, olive groves,

field margins and sandy coasts, on various substrates. 0-1500 m. Fl. Feb-June.

Distribution:- Widespread in Europe and western Asia. Widespread and common

on Crete.

Flowering time:- Feb-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton