Unknown flower, poss. Iberis amara?

[Andy Perrin]

Trying to ID this flower. It is possibly Iberis amara?

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/iberis/amara/?pile=alternate-remaining-non-monocots

 

 

 

 

UV:

[nfoto]

I think you have arrived at the correct ID.

[Andy Perrin]

Thanks. It was not part of the “simple key” on that site, and I wasn’t sure I was using the full key correctly.

[Andrea B.]

The two things that concern me are the lack of small lobes or points on the leaves and whether or not the stem is hairy.

 

But we are only seeing 3 of the upper leaves. Those can possibly be entire rather than slightly lobed or dentate on I. amara. So, Andy, do you remember seeing other leaves from the plant which might have some lobes or points?

 

And does the stem show any kind of hairs.

 

Was the plant that the cutting was taken from found in the wild? Was it tallish and rather weedy? The cultivated Iberis typically grows otherwise in a nice full mound.

[Andy Perrin]

Don’t recall seeing the hairs or the points. But also not sure if those are diagnostic as nfoto would say. They were not mentioned in the key? The plant was found at the edge of a stone and concrete wall in a suburban area looking very weedy. It was medium tall.

 

By the way, “do not recall” means just that.

[Andrea B.]

Yes they are mentioned in the key. But the vocabulary has to be learned.

 

The medium tall weediness pretty much confirms this is I. amara.

 

 

Here's the entire key.

For I. amara in 1A

• Leaf blades with a few irregular large teeth = points or lobes.
  
• Stems hirsute = stems hairy.
  
• Axis of inflorescence elongating in fruit = Stem gets longer as flower ages and seed set begins.
  
• Siliques 3-5 mm = seed pods 3.5 mm.
  

The other choice in 1B

• Leaf blades entire = no lobes, points, indentations.
  
• Stems glabrous = stems are not hairy.
  
• Axis of inflorescence may or may not elongate as seeds set.
  
• Siliques 5.5-7 mm = seed pods 5.5-7 mm