Diplotaxis viminea (L.) DC

Spice Image 2

Family: CRUCIFERAE (BRASSICACEAE)

Genus: Diplotaxis

Catalan common name: Ravenissa vimínia.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Cultivated fields, path and road sides.

Characteristics: A small annual herb with yellow-petalled flowers which are less than 0.5 mm long. Unlike most Brasicaceae it only has four fertile stamens, since the other two have deteriorated anthers. Almost all the leaves are at the base, and are deeply and irregularly lobulate. It can be differentiated from Diplotaxis muralis, which lives in the same habitats, because the latter has larger petals and six fertile stamens. It lives in disturbed places and along path-sides. It flowers in autumn and in winter.