Leptaleum filifolium (Willd.) DC.

Very variable in size and shape of siliquae; fruits are usually slightly curved, but straight ones may also be found even on the same plant. Sometimes siliquae become conspicuously hooked towards the apex, a phenomenon more common in the following genus Malcolmia also, but is not a reliable taxonomic character.

Annual, 5-10(-18) cm long, divaricately branched from the base, glabrous or subhairy with simple, forked or glandular hairs. Leaves filiform, multifid to simple, usually entire, 1-5(-8) cm long, sessile or subsessile; leaf segments up to 2 cm long, 1-2 mm broad. Racemes 5-10-flowered, lax. Flowers c. 5 mm across, white or pinkish; pedicels 3-6 mm long in fruit, slightly to distinctly thickened. Sepals linear, c. 5 mm long. Petals 7-9(-11) mm long, 1-1.5 mm broad. Stamens c. 5: 6 mm long; anthers c. 1 mm long. Siliquae linear, subcompressed, ± quadrangular to subcylindrical, usually slightly curved, very variable, (1.5-) 2.5-5 (-5.5) cm long, 1.5-2.5(-3) mm broad; valves 1-veined, often glabrous, subconvex; septum submembranous; seeds many, c. 1 mm long, 2(-1)-seriate.

Herbs annual, (0.5-)2-15(-20) cm tall, puberulent or rarely subglabrous. Stems branched basally and above, rarely simple from base, decumbent or erect. Basal leaves not rosulate, finely pinnatisect, rarely simple, withered early, 0.9-5(-8) cm; lateral lobes 1-3 on each side, filiform, to 3.5 cm × 0.2-1 mm, glabrous or sparsely puberulent, flat or margin incurved and lobes appear grooved. Cauline leaves similar to basal. Fruiting pedicels 1-4(-10) mm, slender or stout, straight, puberulent. Sepals oblong-linear to linear, (2.5-)3-4(-5) × 0.5-0.7 mm, erect, apically puberulent. Petals white, later pink, linear or oblanceolate-linear, (4.5-)6-9(-11) × 0.4-0.8(-1) mm; claw 2-3.5 mm. Filaments white, filiform, 2.5-5 mm; anthers oblong, 0.5-0.6 mm. Fruit linear, (1.2-)1.5-4(-5.5) cm × 1.5-2.5(-3) mm, often wider at base, gradually tapered to apex, straight or slightly curved distally; valves puberulent or subglabrous, prominently veined. Seeds yellow or light brown, ovoid or suboblong, 0.6-0.9(-1.2) × 0.4-0.5 mm. Fl. Mar-May, fr. Apr-Jun. 2n = 14.

Distribution: Same as that of the genus.

Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; SW Asia].

Fl. Per.: March-April.

Deserts, steppe, stony or gravelly plains or hillsides, sandy, silty, or calcareous soil; 100-1000(-4000) m.

Sisymbrium filifolium Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 3: 495. 1800; Leptaleum hamatum Hemsley & Lace; L. longisiliquosum Freyn & Sintenis; L. pygmaeum de Candolle.