Alyssum desertorum is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae known by the common name desert madwort. It is native to Europe, North Africa and Asia, and it is found in parts of western North America as an introduced species and sometimes a weed.[2] This is a hairy annual herb producing upright stems up to about 20 centimeters tall. The leaves are linear to oblanceolate-linear in shape, 0.5-4 millimeters long and 0.3-3 millimeters wide.[2] The entire plant is covered by 8-20 rayed stellate trichomes, giving the plant a grayish appearance.[3] It produces small yellowish flowers with petals that are 2-2.5 millimeters long and round, notched fruits 2.5-4.5 millimeters long.[4] The brown seeds are winged, arranged two to a locule, and are about 1.5 millimeters long.[5]
| Alyssum desertorum | |
|---|---|
| |
| var. desertorum in southern Nevada | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Alyssum |
| Species: | A. desertorum
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| Binomial name | |
| Alyssum desertorum | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Pronghorn antelope eat this plant in the winter. Western harvester ants have been recorded harvesting the seeds in Wyoming.[3]
References
edit- ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ^ a b Praciak, Andrew (November 18, 2019). "Alyssum desertorum (desert madwort)". CABI Invasive Species Compendium. Archived from the original on 2015-06-12. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ a b Jacobs, Jim (September 2012). "Desert Madwort (Alyssum desertorum) Plant Fact Sheet" (PDF). USDA Plants. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-03-04. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "Alyssum desertorum". ucjeps.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
- ^ "Alyssum desertorum in Flora of Pakistan @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
External links
edit
- Jepson Manual Treatment
- USDA Plants Profile
- "Alyssum desertorum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
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