1.
Aubrieta deltoidea
(Linnaeus) de Candolle, Syst. Nat. 2: 294. 1821.
Alyssum deltoideum
Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 2: 908. 1763
Plants
forming mats or cushions; densely pubescent, trichomes stellate, mixed with fewer, setiform and forked ones.
Stems
several from base (caudex), ascending to procumbent, 0.7-3(-5) dm, pubescent.
Basal leaves:
petiole 0.1-1 cm; blade obovate, oblanceolate, or rhombic, (0.5-)1-3(-4.5) cm × (2-)4-13(-20) mm, base cuneate to attenuate, margins entire or 1-3 teeth on each side, surfaces densely pubescent.
Cauline leaves:
petiolate or (distalmost) sessile; blade similar to basal.
Racemes
1-13-flowered, (lax).
Fruiting pedicels
erect to ascending, 5-12(-16) mm.
Flowers:
sepals 6-10 × 1-1.5 mm; petals (10-)15-28 × 4-7(-8) mm, (attenuate to claw, 5-12 mm); filaments 5-10 mm; anthers 1.2-1.6 mm.
Fruits
terete or slightly flattened, 0.7-2(-2.8) cm × 2-4(-4.8) mm; valves: trichomes long-setiform and forked, mixed with smaller, stellate ones; style 4-12 mm.
Seeds
1.2-16 × 0.7-1 mm.
2
n
= 16.
Flowering Apr-Jun. Rock crevices; ca. 1600 m; introduced; Calif.; s Europe (Mediterranean region); sw Asia; nw Africa.
Aubrieta deltoidea
is known as an escape from the Mt. Hull area at the Mendocino-Lake counties boundary. It is highly variable in its native range, and several infraspecific taxa have been recognized.
