Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv.   Brassicaceae (Mustard Family   Europe    Sweet-Alyssum

                                           March Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Much branched, low growing perennial, branched from base, stems .5-2.5 dm. long; leaves narrowly lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 1-5 cm. long with appressed two pointed hairs; fls. fragrant, 3-4 mm. wide,  white, entire, petals 4, widely obovate, twice as long as sepals; pedicels 5-8 mm. long; glands at base of short stamens +/- 1 mm.; silicles ca. 2.5 mm. long, widely obovate to round, greenish to brown or purplish; seeds 2, wingless, brown, round-oblong, ca. 1.3 mm. long.

Habitat:  Common escape from cultivation, in waste places, along roadsides, etc. below 200 m.  Blooms most of the year.

Name:  Latin, lobulus, small lobe, possibly referring to two lobed hairs.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 296).  Latin, maritimus, of or belonging to the sea.  (Jaeger 150).

General:  Common within the study area.  Photographed along Back Bay Dr. between San Joaquin Hills Dr. and Big Canyon and on the bluffs at the north end of Eastbluff.  (my comments).      About 5 species of Mediterranean region.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 296).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 431; Munz, Calif Flora 270; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 296; Roberts 16.

Photo Ref:  Oct-Nov 83 # 20; March-April 87 # 16.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.  

First Found:  October 1983.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 11.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 6/8/05.

                                  November Photo                                                                 January Photo