Flora-Fauna

Matthiola damascena Boiss.

(First published in Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 2, 17: 56; 1842. Treated in Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 173; 1969)

• Life-form & habit: Perennial with thick root, producing few or no sterile shoots; stems 40–80 cm, covered with whitish to yellowish-grey tomentum.
• Leaves: Oblong; lower leaves petiolate, nearly entire or more often sinuate.
• Inflorescence & flowers: Pedicels very short (1–2 mm at anthesis), elongating to 4–7 mm in fruit, somewhat thickened. Sepals tomentose, 7–8 mm. Petals 12–15 mm, yellowish.
• Fruit: Siliques about 8 × 0.3 cm, tomentose with prominent median and lateral nerves; apex slightly attenuate, topped by a weakly dilated, bilobed stigma.
• Phenology: Flowers March–May.
• Habitat & elevation: Dry rocky regions.
• Lebanese distribution: Sources of the Orontes.
• Syrian distribution: Anti-Lebanon (Yabroud); Damascus (Boissier, Gaillardot), Jabal Qasyoun, Hamé–Dimas, Doummar; steppe (Deir ‘Atiyé to Mahin, Qaryatein, Jabal Abou Rejmein).
• Native range (POWO): Endemic to Lebanon and Syria.

⚠️ Taxonomic note: Mouterde emphasized its distinction from M. crassifolia (with pink flowers and white tomentum) by its yellowish tomentum and yellowish corollas.