SafePlants

Alyssum argenteum

Alyssum argenteum, commonly known as Yellow Tuft or Silver Alyssum, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant has small parts (flowers to 5mm wide) that might be a potential choking hazard if ingested by small pets.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Alyssum argenteum All.
• Common Names: Yellow Tuft, Silver Alyssum, Madwort
• Family: Brassicaceae (also known as Cruciferae)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Synonyms: Alyssum murale, Alyssum argenteum Vitm., Odontarrhena argentea (All.) Ledeb.
• Taxonomic Rank: Species
• Section: Alyssum sect. Odontarrhena

Distribution and Habitat

• Alyssum argenteum is mainly found in Mediterranean Europe.
• It is an Italian endemic taxa, specifically mentioned in Serpentine, Val d'Aosta (Italy), North-west.

Morphological Characteristics

• An erect, tufted plant, typically growing to a height of 15-40cm.
• Leaves are oblanceolate, measuring 5-15mm long, greenish on the upper surface and greyish beneath.
• Flowers are yellow, up to 5mm wide, and arranged in loose racemes.
• Forms a thick, bushy mound of silver gray foliage reaching 10 to 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

Naming

• Alyssum argenteum was described by Carlo Allioni in 1773 and is considered validly published.
• The species name might be an homonymy case.
• The epithet "argenteum" is derived from the Latin word "argentum," meaning silver, referring to the silvery-white appearance of the plant.

Further Information

• RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) provides help and information on Alyssum argenteum.
• Euro+Med Plantbase is an information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity.
• EOL (Encyclopedia of Life) has information about Alyssum argenteum.
• Tropicos stores information about Alyssum murale var. alpinum in the family Cruciferae.
• Check web resources for Alyssum argenteum All. via Synopsis of the genus Alyssum J. Arnold Arbor. 45: 370.