Family: Brassicaceae Burnett
Distribution: Endemic to the archipelago of Madeira, occurs on the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and Desertas.
Ecology: It grows on cliffs and rocks in the coastal zone, on dry soils, to an elevation of about 100 m asl. It blooms from February to October.
Description: Biennial or perennial herb, up to 90 cm tall. Stem erect, usually branched at the base, basal leaves lanceolate, entire, hairy, 5–25 cm long and 0.7–5 cm wide. Flowers in terminal racemes, tetramerous, sepals erect, petals obovate, 1.8–2.8 cm long, violet, purple or rarely white. Fruit a siliqua, 8–15 cm long.
Note: The genus includes about 50 species, which are found in Europe, Asia, Africa, they were also introduced to North America and Australia.
These images were taken in Portugal, Madeira, Ponta de São Lourenço (June 30, 2005).
