hoary stock

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Brompton stock
• gilliflower
• gillyflower
• hoary stock
• ten-weeks stock
• common stock
• gilly-flower
• ten-week stock

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mathiolaria incana
• Cheiranthus incanus
• Microstigma incanum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Brassicales, it is a member of the family Brassicaceae. Specifically, it is categorized under the genus Matthiola.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a varied geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in both Great Britain and Ireland. Its presence extends into Middle Europe, specifically within the territories of Germany and the Czechia-Slovakia region. Moving toward the Mediterranean, the species is also located in Southwestern Europe. Specifically, it inhabits the Baleares islands within that southwestern zone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Matthiola incana is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution and a preference for specific maritime environments. This species thrives across a wide elevational range, beginning at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extending up to a maximum altitude of 2600 m AMSL. Its primary habitat is coastal, where it has adapted to the unique environmental pressures of seaside ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Coastal

Life history

The life history of Matthiola incana is characterized by a flexible lifecycle that can be described as perennial, though it exhibits variable growth patterns depending on environmental conditions. In terms of its structural life form, the species functions as a therophyte, completing its development through a distinct seasonal cycle. This classification is supported by its growth habit, which identifies it as both a therophyte and a member of the therophyte life form category, indicating that it typically survives through seeds during unfavorable periods to emerge as an annual or short-lived perennial during favorable growing seasons.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Matthiola incana is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is categorized as a self-supporting species rather than a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a mean height of 0.5385 m, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum height of 0.1 m to a maximum height of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.5385 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Matthiola incana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation and metabolic processes. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by elliptic leaf forms that exhibit significant morphological variation. On average, the leaves possess a length of 10 cm, with individual measurements ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 14 cm. The leaf width follows a similar distribution, maintaining a mean of 1.5 cm, with a minimum width of 1.2 cm and a maximum width of 2.5 cm. This dimensional profile results in a mean leaf size of 5.9 cm². Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 225.2 cm²/g, reflecting the relationship between its leaf area and dry mass, which is indicative of its resource allocation and leaf thickness strategies.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length mean:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf size mean:

5.9 cm²

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

225.2 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Matthiola incana is characterized by a bisexual sexual reproductive system where self-fertilization is absent, necessitating biotic pollination. The plant features violet-colored flowers that typically range in length from 2.3 cm to 2.8 cm. The flowering season begins in February and concludes in June. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a pod. These pods are dehiscent and vary in dimensions, with a mean length of 7.5 cm (ranging from 5 cm to 11 cm) and a mean width of 0.3 cm (ranging from 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm). Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are uniform in size, with a mean length, width, and dimension of 2.5 mm, and a mean mass of approximately 0.00164 g (ranging from 0.00142 g to 0.00154 g). Finally, the dispersal syndrome of the species is hydrochorous, indicating that the seeds are dispersed via water.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Flower length max:

2.8 cm

Flower length min:

2.3 cm

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

11 cm

Fruit length mean:

7.5 cm

Fruit length min:

5 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00154 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00164 g

Seed mass min:

0.00142 g

Seed width mean:

2.5 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Matthiola incana has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Biology

Cytotoxic

1. Biology

Conditions

Matthiola incana has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes.

Breast cancer

1. Biology

Obesity

1. Biology

Type 2 diabetes

1. Biology