We are currently working in several species of the genus Erysimum:

Erysimum mediohispanicum

Erysimum mediohispanicum is a perennial monocarpic herb found in many montane regions of southeast Spain where it is distributed 1,100–2,000 m above sea level and inhabits forests, scrublands, and shrublands. In the Sierra Nevada, plants usually grow for 2–4 years as vegetative rosettes and then die after producing one to eight reproductive stalks that can display between a few and several hundred bright yellow, hermaphroditic, slightly protandrous flowers. Flowers are visited in the study site by several species of insects .Although this crucifer is self-compatible, it needs pollen vectors to produce full seedset. Infact, plants experimentally excluded from pollinators set only 16% of the fruits set by control plants.

E. mediohispanicum shows an extraordinary extensive continuous variation in flower symmetry ranging from actinomorphic to zygomorphic flowers. Contrary to the canonical crucifer actinomorfic flower, the consensus flower in E. mediohispanicum showed two adaxial and two abaxial petals and only two reflexional planes.

 

Erysimum nevadense

Erysimum nevadense is a perennial polycarpic herb endemic to the Sierra Nevada (SE Spain), where it is distributed from 2,000 m to 2700 m above sea level. Plants usually grow for 2–4 years as vegetative rosettes and then start to reproduce for several years producing several short reproductive stalks that can display between a few and several hundred bright yellow, hermaphroditic, slightly protandrous flowers. Flowers are visited in the study site by several species of insects, outstanding small beetles and ants.

 

Erysimum ruscinonense

Erysimum ruscinonense is another polycarpic herb endemic to the NE of the Iberian Peninsula (Catalonia and Coastal Pyrenees), where it is distributed from 50 m to 1000 m a.s.l. Plants usually grow for 2–4 years as vegetative rosettes and then start to reproduce for several years producing several reproductive stalks that can display between a few and several hundred bright yellow, hermaphroditic, slightly protandrous flowers. Flowers are visited by several species of insects, outstanding small beetles and small bees.

 

 

Erysimum baeticum baeticum

Erysimum baeticum baeticum is a subspecies endemic to the eastern range of the Sierra Nevada, inhabiting subalpine shrublands.Flowering during late May thru early July, it displays up to one hundred showy purple flowers arranged in several short stalks. Flowers are visited mostly by bee-flies, small beetles and ants.

 

Erysimum penyalarense

Erysimum penyalarense is a polycarpic species endemic to the alpine areas of the Guadarrama mountains (Central Spain). Flowering during late May thru early July, it displays showy yellow flowers arranged in several short stalks. Flowers are visited mostly by bees, bee-flies, and small beetles. It is catalogued as vulnerable in the RedBook of Spanish Plants.

Photo: Gonzalo García-Baquero

 

Erysimum semperflorens

Erysimum semperflorens is a polycarpic perennial species endemic to the coastal areas of Argelia and Morroco. In this latter country it distributes between Safi and Agadir, inhabiting sandy soils. Flowering from January to April, it displays showy white flowers arranged in several to many long stalks. Flowers are visited mostly by bees and small beetles.

Photo: Juan Lorite

 

J.D. Fernández Julio 2008