The MGS Forum
Plant identification => Plant identification => Topic started by: MikeHardman on November 08, 2011, 10:10:47 AM
-
I feel I ought to know what this is, but am blinded by thoughts of Matthiola.
It is fairly common along the coast between Latchi and Polis, and probably other places. and in good flower now. It tends to occur at the top end of the beach, in company with Eryngium et al. It forms loose mounds perhaps 30cm tall.
-
Why do you rule out Matthiola sinuata, that's what I've always assumed it is.
-
Hi Cali, thanks for your thoughts.
I rule out Mattiola because of several characters, gleaned from Meikle's Flora of Cyprus, eg.
- flowers distinctly pedicillate, pedicels 5-10mm long
- upper parts of stems and leaves densely grey-tomentose
- flowers Feb-May
-
Hard to tell from the photo but I'd say Cakile maritima (Sea Rocket), if any of the leaves lower down were lobed; though that's an annual it can look more like a perennial.
Both the possible Matthiolas, tricuspidata as well as sinuata, are too obviously downy, unless Mike's been shaving it ;)
-
As Alisdair says, it is Cakile maritima.
-
Excellent, thanks guys!
I note that Meikle's Flora of Cyprus has its flowering period as Feb-July, and not present in my area.
But one of the supplements to Meikle adds my area (division 1), and the Flowers in Israel web site (http://www.flowersinisrael.com/Cakilemaritime_page.htm) gives the flowering period as up to October, so that's just about OK.