Image de Matthiola tricuspidata (L.) W. T. Aiton

Description :

Slo.: trizobi eboj - Habitat: Coastal sand dunes, near the coast, occasionally in the reach of salt water spray; almost flat terrain, full sun, dry place, elevation 5 m (15 feet); average precipitations ~ 960 mm/year, average temperature 18 deg C, Mediterranean phytogeographical region. Substratum: fine sand. Comment: Matthiola tricuspidata is a widely distributed and common flowering in spring plant of sand dunes behind beaches of the whole Mediterranean region. Although there exist a few other similar species of Matthiola genus, which also grow in the Mediterranean, it is easy to recognize it. First distinctive trait is habitat - always near sea shore and the second are their thin, up to 10 cm long siliqua (fruits of the Cruciferae family) with a distinctive three-horned apex (see picture 2.). Ref.: (1) www.cretanflora.com (2) I. Schnfelder, P. Schnfelder, Kosmos Atlas Mittelmeer- und Kanarenflora, Kosmos, (2002), p 56. (3) I. Schnfelder, P. Schnfelder, Was blht am Mittelmeer? Kosmos (2000), p 155. (4) M. Blamey, C. Grey-Wilson, Wild Flowers of the Mediterranean, A & C Black, London (2005), p 64.