A L Y SS U M maritimum.
Sweet Alyssum.
TETRAD YNAMIA SWculosa.
Gen. Char. Pouch nearly entire, bordered, tipped
with the style: valves concave, parallel to the partition.
Two of the filaments (in some species)
marked with a small tooth.
Spec. Char. Stem somewhat woody, much branched,
spreading. Leaves lanceolate, acute, entire, hoary
with close-pressed hairs. Stamens simple. Pouch
compressed.
Syn. Alyssum maritimum. JVilld. Sp. Pl. v. 3 . 459.
A. minimum. Linn. Sp. PI. 908. Herb. Linni
A. halimifolium. Ait. H. Kew. v. 2. 381. Curt.
Mag. t. 1Q1.
Clypeola maritima. Linn. Sp. Pl. 910.
PROFESSOR William Duncan of Aberdeen, in the autumn
of 1804, sent me specimens of this plant gathered half a mile
from the sea in that neighbourhood, but I hesitated to admit
as a native what is so frequently cultivated (for its honey-like
scent) in gardens. I now hesitate no longer, for my friend
Mr. W. J. Hooker has found this Alyssum on the maritime
cliffs of Devonshire at Budleigh-Salterton, and our specimen
was sent from thence by the Rev. Mr. Jervis at his request.
On the southern shores of Europe no plant is more common,
in dry stony places, flowering in autumn, and even in winter.
The above synonyms show how little it has been understood.
It is certainly no Clypeola, but an Alyssum; yet having been
never known by the Linnaean name of minimum, and that name
being exceptionable, we prefer the above. It is not the real
halimifolium, though it may be Hermann’s t. 595.
The root is perennial, yet not very durable. Stems numerous,
woody, spreading. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, more or
less clothed with close-pressed silvery hairs. Flowers numerous,
white, fragrant. Their stamens, and claws of the petals, turn
purple in decay. Pouches in long clusters, 2-celled, 2-seeded, a
little convex.