Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Brassicales Bromhead
Family
Cruciferae
Genus
Alyssum L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Alyssum alyssoides (L.) L., Syst. Nat., ed. 10. 1130 (1759)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Clypeola alyssoides L., Sp. Pl. 652 (1753)
  • = Alyssum calycinum L., Sp. Pl. (ed. 2), 908 (1763)
Vernacular Name(s):
Small alyssum
 Description

Annual herb; stems erect, leafy, branched below, (5)–10–18–(45) cm tall. Lvs entire, stellate-hairy, (2)–5–10 × (1)–2–4 mm; basal lvs oblanceolate to obovate; stem lvs narrower. Infl. a raceme, (5)–10–15 cm long; pedicels spreading, hairy, 2–3–(4) mm long. Sepals stellate-hairy, persistent at fruiting, 3 × 1 mm. Petals hairy beneath, obtuse to shallowly emarginate, 4–6 × 1–1.5 mm. Outer filaments with slender paired appendages. Silicle almost circular, shortly emarginate, inflated in centre, 3–4 × 3–(4) mm; valves stellate-hairy; veins faint or 0; style 0.3–0.4 mm long. Seeds brown, ovoid, flattened, narrowly winged, 1.5 × 1 mm, usually 2 per locule.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Phenology

Flowering: (Oct.)–Nov.–Dec.–(Apr.); Fruiting: (Oct.)–Nov.–Dec.–(Apr.)

 Bibliography
Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.
Linnaeus, C. 1763: Species Plantarum, Editio Secunda.
Linnaeus, C. von 1759: Systema naturae per regna tria naturae :secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Vol. 2. Edition 10. Stockholm.