Matthiola incana (L.) R.Br. Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)   Europe     Stock     Common Stock

                                               March Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Perennial herbs with close stellate  tomentum, 3-5 dm. tall, often woody; leaves entire to sinuately dentate, linear-oblong to oblanceolate, 5-15 cm. long; sepals erect, ca. 1 cm. long; petals about 2 cm. long, purple to white, sweet scented, racemose; seed pods 8-18 cm. long, 4-5 mm. thick; seeds almost 2 mm. wide.

Habitat:  Escape from cultivation; sandy places and bluffs along the seacoast and below 100 m. March-May.

Name:  Named for P.A. Matthioli (1500-1577, Italian botanist and physician.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 297).  Latin, incanus, hoary.  (Jaeger 126).  The species name probably refers to the tomentum on the stems and leaves. (my comment).

General:  Uncommon in the study area, found in Big Canyon and the bench below Eastbluff.  Photographed both places.  (my comments).     Grown as an annual, even though it is a perennial.  (Sunset Editors 370).      About 50 species of w. Asia and Mediterranean region.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 297).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 432; Munz, Calif Flora 270; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 297; Roberts 16.

Photo Ref:  Feb 3 84 # 2; Feb 1 87 # 21,22.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.  

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 10.  

Last edit 10/23/02.