| Brassicaceae |
|---|
Aethionema membranaceum DC. |
 Aethionema membranaceum DC. |
Aethionema R. BR. |
| Ae. membranaceum DC Syst. 2: 561 (1821). Many-stemmed, erect perennial with simple flowering stems, 10-17 cm. Leaves oblong-linear, sessile or sub-petiolate, evenly distributed on stem. Petals pink, 5-6 x 3-4 mm, 3-nerved at base. Filaments not connate, dilated at base, dentate or more often not. Inflorescence compact in flower and fruit. Ovary bilocular, loculi 1-ovulate. Fruiting pedicels erect or adpressed, 3-5 mm. Siliculae flat, scarcely cymbiform, orbicular, cordate, 6.5-10 x 6-11 mm, wings 2-4 mm entire; sinus 2.5-4 mm: style 0.5 mm; septum 5 x 1.5 mm. Seeds 1 or 2. Radicle incumbent. Fl. 5-7. Dry rocky slopes, 1800-3050 m. Type: Iran, in monte Elwend, Michaux. E. Anatolia. A7 Gümüşane: Gümüşane, 1250 m, Hub.-Mor. 14841! A8 Gümü-şane: Kovans to Bayburt, 1900 m, D. 31935! A9 Erzurum: Erzurum to Ispir, 1930 m, Hub.-Mor. 16244! B6 Sivas: 10 km S W of Sivas on road to Şarkişla, Reese. B7 Erzincan: Erzincan to Refahiye, 2000 m, Hub.-Mor. 13210! B8 Bitlis: W side of Nemrut Da., 1820 m, D. 23591! Kambos Da., 1820 m, D. 23398! B9 Van: d. Gevaş, Artos Da., 3050 m, D. 22749! Ispiriz Da., 2900 m, D. 23636! Iran, Transcaucasia. Ir.-Tur. element. Recognised by the broad flat fruits in tight, compact heads. In flower it cannot be recognised with complete certainty, but the capitate inflorescence is not a normal character of its relatives Ae. coridi-follum & Ae. grandiflorum. In the original diagnosis the Caucasian species Ae. edentulum Busch was separated from Ae. membranaceum by having edentate filaments. There is very little justification for regarding it as specifically separate from Ae. membranaceum. |