Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. in J. Bot. Appl. 3: 162. 1814. Clypeola maritima L., Sp. Pl. 652. 1753.

Herbs, perennial, erect or subercct, 10 - 40 cm high, branched mostly from base, greyish-white pubescent with bipartite appressed hairs. Leaves sessile, linear or narrowly oblanceolate, entire or obscurely toothed along margins, acute at apex, 20 - 35 x 3 - 8 mm. Racemes 20 - 30 flowered, lax. Flowers white or pinkish, bracteate, ca 5 mm across; pedicels 8 - 10 mm long in fruit. Sepals ca 2 mm long. Petals 3 - 4 x 2.5 mm. Stamens ca 2 mm long; anthers ca 0.3 mm long. Style ca 1 mm long. Fruits suborbicular, oblong or obovate, 2.5 - 4 x 2 - 2.5 mm, appressed pubescent to almost glabrous; valves convex with a distinct midvein; seeds 1 in each locule, suborbicular, reddish-brown, 1 - 1.5 mm in diam.

Fl. & Fr. Mar. - June.

Distrib. Native of Mediterranean and Macronesian regions; widely cultivated for ornamental purposes.