Moricandia Angulata

''Moricandia'' is a genus of plants of the family Brassicaceae. This genus is mainly distributed in North Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Europe. It is associated with arid and semi-arid environments. Flowers of this genus are actinomorphic-dissymmetrical and mostly lilac in color, although they vary from white to purple depending on the species and climatic conditions. Some species show extreme phenotypic plasticity for flower size, shape, and color. The fruits are two-valved dehiscent siliques with one or two sets of seeds per valve.

''Moricandia'' shows high variability in the morphological characters used for identification, making this genus's taxonomy complex and, many times, controversial. Eight species with a variable number of synonymies and subspecies are actually accepted. ''Moricandia arvensis'' also known as purple mistress is the most widely distributed species of this genus. ''Moricandia moricandioides'' commonly known as violet cabbage, a native of the Mediterranean, is cultivated as a garden flower.

Some species of this genus perform C2 photosynthesis, making them interesting in the engineering of C2 crops.

Species

* ''Moricandia arvensis'' ( L.) DC.
* ''Moricandia foetida'' Bourg. ex Coss.
* ''Moricandia moricandioides'' (Boiss.) Heywood
* ''Moricandia nitens'' (Viv.) Durieu & Barr
* ''Moricandia rytidocarpoides'' Lorite, Perfectti, Gómez, González-Megías & Abdelaziz
* ''Moricandia sinaica'' Boiss.
* ''Moricandia spinosa'' Pomel.
* ''Moricandia suffruticosa'' (Desf.) Coss. & Durieu

Previously considered a ''Moricandia'' species, ''M. foleyi'' Batt. is now ascribed to the genus ''Eruca'' as ''Eruca foleyi'' based in phylogenetic analyses

References

External links

Moricandia DC.
by E. Sobrino Vesperinas

Evoflor, a web page on ''Moricandia'' floral evolution

Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae genera

{{Brassicales-stub