Hesperis matronalis L.

Biennial or perennial up to 1 m tall; rootstock woody; hairs simple and branched. Lvs ovate, hairy, simple, toothed, tapering to petiole; lower lvs to 50 × 10 cm, petiolate; upper lvs smaller, narrower, very shortly petiolate. Racemes 10–20 cm long. Sepals hairy with scarious or pinkish margins, 5–7 × c. 2 mm. Petals white to violet, 12–15 × 4–5 mm. Silique curved, 60–100 × 1.5–2 mm, erect on spreading pedicels 10–20–(30) mm long; valves ± glabrous, constricted between the seeds. Seeds brown, 3–4 mm long.

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

Flowering: Nov.–Apr.; Fruiting: Jan.–Apr.