hoary alyssum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hoary alyssum
• hoary false madwort
• hoary false-alyssum
• Hoary Alison
• hoary false alyssum
• hoary-alyssum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Moenchia incana
• Vesicaria incana
• Berteroa incana subsp. stricta
• Berteroa orbiculata var. stricta
• Berteroa incana f. trichocarpa
• Berteroa incana var. bulgarica
• Berteroa incana var. prolifera
• Berteroa incana var. trichocarpa
• Draba chaeirifolia
• Draba cheirifolia
• Alyssum incanum
• Berteroa stricta
• Crucifera berteroa
• Draba cheiranthifolia
• Alyssum incanum var. trichocarpum
• Draba cheiriformis
• Draba dasycarpa
• Berteroa ascendens var. microcarpa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is positioned in the order Brassicales and the family Brassicaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Berteroa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several territories within Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland regions of Denmark. Furthermore, its presence is documented throughout the landscapes of Finland. The species also inhabits various environments across Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its range extends further north into the rugged terrain of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Berteroa incana is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse and often disturbed landscapes, ranging from fertile crop fields and old fields to the more rugged terrain of hills, mountains, and steppes, as well as along roadsides. This species is specifically adapted to an elevational range that centers at 1200 m AMSL, maintaining its presence within this specific altitudinal bracket. Its presence in both agricultural environments and natural steppe habitats suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing it to colonize various soil types and open environments where sunlight is abundant.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, hills, mountains, old fields, roadsides, steppe

Life history

The life history of Berteroa incana is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, meaning it typically completes its biological processes over a period of two years, transitioning from vegetative growth to reproductive maturity. As a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable seasons through the production of seeds, which remain dormant until conditions are suitable for germination. This species maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage throughout much of its development. Its classification as a therophyte is further emphasized by its growth strategy, which focuses on rapid development and seed dispersal to ensure survival in its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Berteroa incana is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It functions as a self-supporting plant, requiring no external structures for climbing, and maintains an independent life cycle without parasitic behavior. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively small, with a minimum height of 0.2 m, a maximum height of 0.65 m, and an average plant height of approximately 0.3625 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.65 m

Plant height mean:

0.3625 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Berteroa incana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. The plant's foliar morphology exhibits significant variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, maintaining a mean leaf length of 5 cm. The leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.8 cm and a maximum of 1.5 cm, contributing to a mean leaf size of 1.4125 cm². Furthermore, the plant displays a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 177.43 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its resource allocation strategies regarding light interception and metabolic efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length mean:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

1.4125 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

177.43 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Berteroa incana is characterized by a specialized flowering period that begins and concludes in June. The plant relies on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization; notably, self-fertilization is absent, indicating a dependency on external biological agents. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a capsule-type fruit that is classified as dehiscent. These fruits are relatively small, with a mean length of 0.6 cm (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 0.6 cm) and a mean width of 0.4 cm (ranging from 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm). The resulting seeds are minute, possessing a mean mass of 0.00051425 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.000319 g to a maximum of 0.00045 g. For the propagation of the species, Berteroa incana employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by wind. Furthermore, the plant does not engage in asexual reproduction, relying entirely on these sexual processes for its life cycle.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.4 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00045 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00051425 g

Seed mass min:

0.000319 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Berteroa incana has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isoquercitrin, SINAPIC ACID, arabinose, ferulic acid, glucose.

Isoquercitrin

1. Natural product research

SINAPIC ACID

1. Natural product research

arabinose

1. Natural product research

ferulic acid

1. Natural product research

glucose

1. Natural product research

polyphenols

1. Natural product research

quercetin

1. Natural product research

Activities

Berteroa incana has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Natural product research

Antimicrobial

1. Natural product research

Antioxidant

1. Natural product research

Preparations