Alyssum desertorum is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae known by the common name desert madwort. It is native to Europe, North Africa and Asia, and it is found in parts of western North America as an introduced species and sometimes a weed.[2] This is a hairy annual herb producing upright stems up to about 20 centimeters tall. The leaves are linear to oblanceolate-linear in shape, 0.5-4 millimeters long and 0.3-3 millimeters wide.[2] The entire plant is covered by 8-20 rayed stellate trichomes, giving the plant a grayish appearance.[3] It produces small yellowish flowers with petals that are 2-2.5 millimeters long and round, notched fruits 2.5-4.5 millimeters long.[4] The brown seeds are winged, arranged two to a locule, and are about 1.5 millimeters long.[5]

Alyssum desertorum
var. desertorum in southern Nevada
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Alyssum
Species:
A. desertorum
Binomial name
Alyssum desertorum
Synonyms[1]
  • Alyssum minimum Willd. nom. illeg.
  • Alyssum sartorii Heldr. ex Maire & Petitm.
  • Psilonema minimum Schur

Pronghorn antelope eat this plant in the winter. Western harvester ants have been recorded harvesting the seeds in Wyoming.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  2. ^ a b Praciak, Andrew (November 18, 2019). "Alyssum desertorum (desert madwort)". CABI Invasive Species Compendium. Archived from the original on 2015-06-12. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Jacobs, Jim (September 2012). "Desert Madwort (Alyssum desertorum) Plant Fact Sheet" (PDF). USDA Plants. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-03-04. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Alyssum desertorum". ucjeps.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  5. ^ "Alyssum desertorum in Flora of Pakistan @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
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